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COVID-19 News Update

OCTOBER 1, 2021

ATTENTION WILL COUNTY PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF
5-11-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Will County Health Department is planning for the expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign efforts to include the 5-11-year-old age group. We are looking for feedback from Will County parents/guardians regarding their plans for vaccinating their 5-11-year-old children. Please complete this short survey:

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

The importance of pregnant women being vaccinated

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends urgent action to increase Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future. CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks.

As of September 27, 2021, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths. The highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in pregnant people (n=22) in a single month of the pandemic was reported in August 2021.

Although the absolute risk is low, compared with non-pregnant symptomatic people, symptomatic pregnant people have more than a two-fold increased risk of requiring ICU admission, invasive ventilation, and ECMO, and a 70% increased risk of death.

Will County held a ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Health Department which opened last year in May during the Pandemic.

The new building served as a safe haven for thousands of Will County residents to get tested and receive their vaccine over the last year. In addition, it provided a state of the art center for our team to deliver vital mental health, Tuberculosis, women and infant services throughout the year. Thank you for all who joined us for this ribbon cutting!

IDPH UPDATED SCHOOL GUIDANCE

An updated version of the Public Health School Guidance, FAQ and Exclusion Protocols (with new flowcharts) are now posted on ISBE’s website, with updates underway to IDPH’s website. These align with EO 2021-24 and amendments to the Communicable Disease Code.

Booster Doses

The IL Department of Public Health and Will County Health Department is adopting the Centers for Disease Control recommendations for a booster shot of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in certain populations and a booster dose for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings.

WHO SHOULD GET THE BOOSTER

CDC recommends that the following groups should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e., the first 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine):

  • people aged 65 years and older
  • residents aged 18 years and older in long-term care settings
  • people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions

CDC also recommends that the following groups may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine at least 6 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks:

  • people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions
  • people aged 18–64 years at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting

BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks. Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine can be administered 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary two-dose series was completed, no sooner.

At this time, Boosters have NOT been approved for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19. If you received the one-dose Johnson and Johnson or the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine you cannot receive a Pfizer booster.

COVID-19 3rd Dose FOR IMMUNE-COMPROMISED

  • 3rd dose vaccines are only approved for immune-compromised individuals
  • 3rd dose is to be administered a minimum of 28 days after 2nd shot

    See the Governor’s Statement for further information on immune-compromised HERE.

    COVID-19

    Myth vs. Fact

    Getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, and social distancing are proven methods to slow the spread of COVID-19 and emerging variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all people 12 years and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 and all people 2 years and older wear a mask indoors when in public. As of September 1, 2021, only 61.5% of people ages 12 years or older in the U.S. are fully vaccinated, and rates of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths remain high.

    MYTH

    Wearing a mask for long periods of time is not safe for children.

     

    FACT

    There are no safety concerns for children wearing masks for prolonged periods in school or child care settings. Masks do not make it harder to breathe, affect lung development, trap carbon dioxide, or weaken the immune system.

    Dr. Gupta from our partner Silver Cross Hospital shares an update on the Delta Variant of the COVID-19 Virus. Please take a moment to watch and learn about how you can protect yourself.

    the importance of the annual flu shot


    Influenza (flu) severity varies from year to year, but flu always brings serious consequences. The prevention of influenza and its associated consequences is important every year. Although the effectiveness of the flu vaccine can vary, overall the vaccine markedly lowers the risk of influenza-related illness, hospitalization, and death.

    The COVID-19 pandemic means preventing influenza during 2020–21 is more important than ever. Influenza and COVID-19 share many symptoms. Preventing influenza means fewer people will need to seek medical care and testing for possible COVID-19 or influenza. And increasing flu vaccination uptake saves healthcare resources for COVID-19 and other conditions.

    COVID-19 Delta Variant Cases Continue to Rise.

    Why Wait?

    Schedule your vaccine today to Stop the Spread of the Delta Variant!

    Steps Already Taken to Combat Delta in Illinois:

    Vaccinations required for all state employees at congregate facilities, in addition to mandates by private employers

    Masks required in all public indoor spaces

    County Level COVID-19 Risk Metrics

    Hospital Resource and COVID Patient Data

    County Level COVID-19 Community Transmission Data

    Cases: 7 Day Total

    1,003

    Cases: Total Per 100K

    145.21

    Positivity Rate

    3.6%

    Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics

    Oktoberfest

    200 Second Street, Manhattan

    October 9th from 9am to 11am

    McDonald’s

    701 Oriole Dr, Peotone

    October 13th from 8am to 10:30am

    All individuals vaccinated at this event will receive a coupon for a free sandwich of their choice to be redeemed at that location.

    McDonald’s

    901 Dixie Highway, Beecher

    October 14th from 11am to 3pm

    All individuals vaccinated at this event will receive a coupon for a free sandwich of their choice to be redeemed at that location.

    Golden Corral

    381 Brookview Lane, Bolingbrook

    October 16th from 9am to 1pm

    All individuals vaccinated at this event will receive a voucher to redeem a free meal that day! (up to a $19 value)

    St. Francis of Assisi Parish

    1501 W Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook

    October 17th from 9am to 1:30pm

    Golden Corral

    2100 W Jefferson St, Joliet

    October 18th from 1pm to 6pm

    All individuals vaccinated at this event will receive a voucher to redeem a free meal that day! (up to a $19 value)

    Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Event Request

    Do you want to host a Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Event?

    2 DOSE VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST COVID-19

    GET BOTH DOSES

    call 815-774-7386 to schedule your second dose.

    Click a link below to schedule your first dose vaccine online.

    (2nd dose appointments will be made at the time of the first appointment.)

    If you need a second dose appointment,
    call 815-774-7386 to schedule your second dose.

    Click for Pfizer Booster Doses for those that qualify – OR –
    for a 3rd dose of Pfizer and Moderna for the immunosuppressed populations

    Joliet

    Will County Health Department Vaccine Clinic

    501 Ella Avenue, Joliet, IL 60433

    CLINIC HOURS:
    MONDAYS from 9am – 3:45pm
    TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS from 9am – 5:30pm

    CLOSED WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS

    Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines available

     ACCEPTING WALK-INS
    AFTER 10am 

    Now with automatic second dose scheduling!

    Bolingbrook

    Will County Health Department North Branch Office Pfizer Vaccine Clinic

    Regular Wednesday Pfizer Appointments for ages 12 & up

    323 Quadrangle Drive, Bolingbrook, IL 60440

    CLINIC HOURS:
    WEDNESDAYS
    from 10am – 5:30pm

     ACCEPTING WALK-INS 

    PFIZER HAS FULL FDA APPROVAL FOR THOSE AGES 16+

    The Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for people 16 and up, making it the first to move beyond emergency use status in the United States.

    Schedule an Appointment Online or Call to Schedule your Vaccination at a Will County Health Department Vaccination Clinic.

    815-774-7386

    VACCINES FOR HOMEBOUND

    Do you know someone who is interested in receiving a COVID vaccine who is unable to get out of the house due to medical limitations?

    Consider applying for our homebound vaccination program through the Will County Health Department! Click the link to apply, and we will follow up with you as soon as we can! We want to get everyone vaccinated, especially those who are most at-risk and homebound.

    REQUEST A NEW COVID-19 VACCINE RECORD CARD OR ALTERNATIVE FORM OF THE VACCINE RECORD FROM WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

    Use this two-sided English/Spanish form to: request a new COVID-19 vaccine record card; to have your COVID-19 vaccine record corrected; or to request an alternative form of the COVID-19 vaccine record. Requests will be filled within 72 business hours. Please plan additional time if your record is mailed via US Postal Service.

    GET ACCESS TO YOUR VACCINATION RECORDS ELECTRONICALLY, THROUGH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH’S VAX VERIFY SYSTEM

    Our Progress

    Over 55% of the population in Will County Are Fully Vaccinated!

    Total number of vaccines administered

    791,437

    10/1/21

    Total complete doses

    386,142

    10/1/21

    55.78%

    of population fully vaccinated

    Demographic Breakdown

    RACE/ETHNICITY

    %

    WHITE

    475,884

    %

    HISPANIC

    114,371

    %

    BLACK

    74,473

    %

    ASIAN

    57,247

    Age

    Ages 12-17

    • 73,795 9.32% 9.32%

    Ages 18-64

    • 555,777 70.2% 70.2%

    Ages 65+

    • 161,847 20.5% 20.5%

    Gender

    Female

    • 422,048 53.3% 53.3%

    Male

    • 367,072 46.4% 46.4%

    FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR DAILY VACCINE CLINIC UPDATES

    An easy way to stay updated on vaccine clinic hours and availability of appointments is to follow the Will County Health Department on Facebook. We post each morning the locations that are open that day for appointments and walk-ins.

     

    Click here to visit our page and then follow/like us!

    For additional questions about COVID-19, call our hotline:

    815.774.7386

    The Will County Health Department is providing a Coronavirus hotline to help answer your questions about COVID-19.

    Call Center Hours of Operation:

    Monday through Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm

    Please call with any questions you may have and we will be happy to help you.

    Sign Up To Receive Our Weekly COVID-19 Update Newsletter