Vaccine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Date: December 28, 2020                                   

For Immediate Release                                Subject: COVID-19 Vaccine update

Kankakee County Health Department begins COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Clinics.

The Kankakee County Health Department (KCHD) received the first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on December 16, 2020.

The initial shipment of 1,570 doses of the vaccine was distributed to the priority group of the two Kankakee County hospitals. The first group to receive the vaccine under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations are healthcare workers and those serving in healthcare facility settings who are at an increased risk of exposure. Distribution to hospitals and KCHD will roll out over the next few weeks, depending on supply.

The second shipment of vaccine was received on December 28, 2020 and contained 700 doses. KCHD is currently holding clinics to provide 500 doses to Priority Group 1A (healthcare workers), the additional 200 doses are reserved for the Manteno Veterans Home. Please visit www.cdc.gov for a listing of the current tiers and those included in each tier.

Vaccinations for staff and residents at long-term care facilities which also fall under Priority Group 1A will be conducted by personnel from CVS and Walgreen’s drug stores under a national program. The expected start for long-term care facility vaccinations is late December.

Vaccinations for the general public are not likely to begin until early spring. Kankakee County residents will be informed of availability at that time. The health department is currently NOT accepting COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

For questions about the COVID Vaccine and the most current vaccination information, please visit our website at www.kankakeehealth.org  or call our hotline at 815-802-9311.

The Health Department is currently coordinating with hospital health care systems, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and federally qualified healthcare facilities to prepare to make the vaccine immediately available to the staff in those locations. KCHD is also working closely with first responder departments, including Fire Departments and EMS systems to prepare for vaccine distribution to all first responder personnel throughout the county.

As part of its normal responsibilities, the Health Department’s Public Health Preparedness Program develops and executes plans and for mass-vaccination as well as distribution of other items received through the federal and state strategic national stockpile program such as personal protective equipment.

The public is advised to continue to take precautions. Wear a mask, wash your hands and maintain your social distance. Avoid social gatherings and get tested if you think you have been exposed.

ADDITIONAL COVID-19 TESTING DATES CONFIRMED:

Drive-through COVID-19 testing conducted by IDPH is available in the parking lot at the Kankakee County Health Department located at 2390 W Station St. in Kankakee from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the following dates: 1/3/21, 1/5/21, 1/6/21, 1/13/21, 1/15/21, 1/19/21, 1/21/21. Testing is free and available to all regardless of age, COVID-19 symptoms, or insurance status. A parent or guardian must be present and able to provide consent for individuals under the age of 18.

Additional testing options are available in Kankakee County. For more information about all available testing sites in Kankakee County, visit our website or our Facebook page. Many healthcare providers in Kankakee County also have COVID-19 testing available. Please contact your provider or the facility to ask about testing criteria and appointment availability.

For additional information and current updates on the COVID-19 situation, visit the KCHD website at www.kankakeehealth.org.

For more information regarding the Moderna or Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine you can visit the links below.

·         Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine: https://www.cvdvaccine.com/

·         Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine: https://www.modernatx.com/covid19vaccine-eua/recipients/

·         How CDC Is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html

·         Illinois Department of Public Health SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Planning Guide and Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccination-plan