US Health Officials Address Vaccine Access, Screenings

Public health coverage highlights prevention efforts alongside barriers and policy debates. A CVS Health-commissioned survey found that access, cost and availability lead many adults to delay discussing health concerns or obtaining routine screenings; the company’s Project Health offers free screenings through pharmacies, mobile sites and community events. Illinois health officials urge residents to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and RSV as respiratory illnesses are expected to rise. Separately, routine kindergarten vaccination rates have fallen since the pandemic while school-entry exemptions have increased, even as polling shows broad parental support for existing vaccine requirements; state-level policy changes could affect future vaccination trends.