COVID-19 News Update
NOVEMBER 24, 2021
Not all superheroes wear capes!
The Will County Health Department (WCHD) celebrated their Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers as Superheroes on Friday November 19th at Heroes West in Joliet. One hundred and sixty-six MRC volunteers have donated their time to the WCHD COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics and to the people of Will County. As of November 17th, the MRC volunteers have contributed 8,986.5 hours (and counting) assisting the residents of Will County in getting vaccinated. The volunteer superheroes have assisted with 155 on-site clinics, 52 off-site clinics, 50 pop-up clinics, and 26 school clinics.
Vaccinations of Will County residents is currently at 898,455 administered vaccines with 444,825 people receiving at least one dose (64.25%) and 402,439 residents fully vaccinated (58.13%). This has certainly been due to great partnerships throughout the county including the MRC volunteers.
The WCHD also honored their top volunteers – those that have donated the greatest number of hours during this COVID Vaccination Mission: Carol Ferguson 293 hours; Jim Garrison 294 hours; Napoleon Terrell 296 hours; and Mary Spata 308 hours. The MRC Volunteer of the Year was also named, Bonnie Garrison 442 hours. In response to being named Volunteer of the Year, Bonnie said “I really feel that this award should be shared by 150+ other members of the COVID-19 Volunteer Vaccine Team. There are a few reasons why I’m able to devote those hours to WCHD: I love to be busy; I am retired so don’t have the responsibility of job and family at home, I truly enjoy what I’m doing at WCHD, and, most important, I am committed to the cause and want to help see COVID-19 become a thing of the past. Whether a volunteer gives 3 hours, 30 hours, or 300 hours at the clinic, he or she could be considered a “Volunteer of the Year.”
The WCHD was able to raffle off some donated prizes for the volunteers as well. Individuals who work at the health department and the County Executive donated gift cards and baskets of goodies. Local businesses also donated including Agor Behavioral Health Services, Inc., Heroes West, and Referral GPS.
Volunteers – real life superheroes – ordinary people, extraordinary impact!
Calling all Superheroes: If you are interested in joining this group of Superheroes, aka WCHD Medical Reserve Corp and making a difference in our community, email bagor@willcountyhealth.org.
COVID-19 VACCINE:
BOOSTER DOSE UPDATE
The Will County Health Department and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to open COVID-19 booster shots to all, is recommending anyone 18 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose six months after receiving their second Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, or two months after receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Schedule your booster dose below.
Moderna
Booster Dose
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Individuals 18 years and older
DOSAGE:
½ dose
WHEN ARE YOU ELIGIBLE:
At least six-months after the initial two-dose series was administered
WANT TO SWITCH BRANDS?
Yes, you can receive a single booster dose of Moderna as long as you completed a one or two-dose series with a different COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer
Booster Dose
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Individuals 18 years and older
DOSAGE:
Full Dose
WHEN ARE YOU ELIGIBLE:
At least six-months after the initial two-dose series was administered
WANT TO SWITCH BRANDS?
Yes, you can receive a single booster dose of Pfizer as long as you completed a one or two-dose series with a different COVID-19 vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson
Booster Dose
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Individuals 18 years and older
DOSAGE:
Full Dose
WHEN ARE YOU ELIGIBLE:
At least two-months after a single dose primary vaccination was administered
WANT TO SWITCH BRANDS?
Yes, you can receive a single booster dose of Johnson & Johnson as long as you completed a two-dose series with a different COVID-19 vaccine.
WILL COUNTY EQUITY
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Fairmont Community Partnership Group, Inc.
The Fairmont Community Partnership Group, Inc is a non-profit 501(c)(3) “committed to working diligently, together with residents and neighbors toward the continued improvement of the Fairmont community.” Furthermore, as part of their mission, they are “committed to improving the health and well-being of the residents of Fairmont and to returning Fairmont to a community of which we can ALL be proud.” Fairmont Community Partnership Group, Inc., led by Executive Director DeLinda Herod, are partners and recipients of the Will County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Grant. As a part of their focus on improving the health and well-being of residents, they hosted and partnered on offering community pop-up vaccination clinics, hired health navigators to assist with vaccine education, and held in-person and virtual community-wide meetings. They also continue to provide vaccine education through their Fairmont Food Pantry. Their outreach efforts have focused on the Fairmont community in Lockport; however, vaccination events have been open to the public. Most recently, on November 17th, they held a vaccination clinic in partnership with Fairmont Schools, Shiloh Baptist Church, Will County Health Department, and Kodocare, to provide COVID vaccinations within the Fairmont community. At this clinic, 84 vaccinations were provided for ages 5-11, 40 boosters and 2nd doses, along with 6 flu shots. Over the past two months alone, the Fairmont Community Partnership Group has been able to reach over 320 residents. Learn more about Fairmont Community Partnership Group, Inc HERE. Thank you to these compassionate advocates! We are grateful for your partnership.
updated Sports Policy for schools
This guidance issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) pertains to all youth recreational sports, including, but not limited to, school-based sports (high school and elementary school), travel clubs, private leagues and clubs, recreational leagues and centers, and park district sports programs. This guidance does NOT pertain to adult recreational sports, professional sports leagues, or college division level sports. This guidance supersedes all previously issued All Sports Guidance issued from IDPH and/or ISBE.
Download our Full PDF & Frequently Asked Questions documents by clicking below.
5-11 Pediatric Pfizer Vaccination
The Illinois Department of Public Health has Adopted CDC recommendations for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for children ages 5-11
Will County Pediatric Pfizer (ages 5-11) Vaccine Providers
Pediatricians, Pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Will County Health Department and other community partners will be providing Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine to children ages 5 to 11.
Tips to help calm vaccination fears for children
Make a Plan
Talk with your child before their appointment about what to expect.
Don't Lie
Avoid tricking or misleading your child about what to expect.
Stay Calm
If a parent is nervous or stressed it can affect the child so it is important to stay calm.
Bring a Toy
A toy can help comfort and distract a nervous child.
COVID-19 VACCINE:
THIRD DOSE
FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED
Third COVID-19 Vaccine Doses for People who are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised.
A Third dose is NOT a booster dose!
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for both the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to allow a third dose to be administered to people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised following a primary mRNA vaccine series.
Subsequently, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive a third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 weeks after their second dose, for a total of three doses. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed those recommendations. See the full CDC Media Statement here.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A THIRD DOSE OF COVID-19 VACCINE?
Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
If your condition or medication isn’t on this list and you think you have a weakened immune system, talk to your healthcare provider about your medical condition and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate.
Individuals can self-attest and receive the third dose wherever vaccines are offered. This will help ensure there are not additional barriers to access for this vulnerable population receiving a needed third dose.
WHEN ARE YOU ELIGIBLE
The third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be the same vaccine as the initial series and administered at least four weeks after completing a primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS
While vaccination is likely to increase protection in this population, even after vaccination, people who are immunocompromised should continue follow current prevention measures (including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others they do not live with, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces) to protect themselves and those around them against COVID-19 until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
Contact Tracing
Contact Tracing is being used by all 97 local health departments and IDPH Surge Center to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Contact tracing involves:
- Reaching out to people with COVID-19 to identify everyone they had close contact with during the time they may have been infectious
- Notifying contacts of their potential exposure
- Referring those contacts for testing
- Monitoring contacts for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- Connecting contacts with services they might need to remain at home during the self-quarantine period
- If you receive a call from a contact tracer, the phone number should read 1-312-777-1999 COVID CONTACT.
- Please answer their calls or return their calls in a timely manner so we can all help to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- The Contact Tracing Phone number (1-312-777-1999) is the same across the State of Illinois. The system is programmed to match the phone number of an incoming call to a specific case record so the caller can be routed to the assigned Case Owner in the virtual calling system.
- If the inbound call is unable to be routed to an available Contact Tracer, the caller has the option to leave a voicemail.
- For more information on Contact Tracing, visit this link https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data/contact-tracing.html
- For more information on Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines, visit this link https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/isolation-quarantine.html
- For more information on FAQs for schools, visit this link https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/school-guidance/school-guidance-faqs.html
*Please Note: Will County Health Department Contact Tracers do not need your social security, or payment information to perform contact tracing, our staff will NEVER ask for payment, and/or credit card information of any kind.
Click a link below to schedule your first dose vaccine online.
Second dose appointments will be made at time of the first dose appointment. If you need to schedule a second dose appointment, you must call 815-774-7386.
Vaccination Clinic Schedule for the week of Thanksgiving:
Thursday & Friday – Closed for the Holiday
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
County Level COVID-19 Risk Metrics
Hospital Resource and COVID Patient Data
Vaccinations By Zip Code
County Level COVID-19 Community Transmission Data
Cases: 7 Day Total
1,904
Cases: Total Per 100K
275.65
Positivity Rate
5.12%
Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics
Beecher 200 U
660 Penfield St, Beecher
March 26th from 9am to 1pm
Adult & Pediatric Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Clinic
Plainfield Public Library District
15025 S Illinois St, Plainfield
March 26th from 11am to 3pm
Adult & Pediatric Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Clinic
St. Peter's Lutheran Church GYM
310 N Broadway St, Joliet
March 26th from 10am to 3pm
Adult & Pediatric Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Clinic
Joliet Public Library Black Road Branch
3395 Black Rd, Joliet
March 26th from 11:30am to 3:30pm
Adult & Pediatric Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson Clinic
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
15120 W Wallin Dr, Plainfield
March 27th from 9am to 3pm
Adult & Pediatric Pfizer, & Moderna Clinic
Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Event Request
Do you want to host a Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Event?
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
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 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.
Our Progress
Over 58% of the population in Will County Are Fully Vaccinated!
Total number of vaccines administered
918,156
11/24/21
Total complete doses
404,790
11/24/21
58.47%
of population fully vaccinated
Demographic Breakdown
RACE/ETHNICITY
%
WHITE
567,606
%
HISPANIC
126,754
%
BLACK
87,821
%
ASIAN
68,830
Age
Ages 5-11
- 9,683 1.05%
Ages 12-17
- 77,948 8.49%
Ages 18-64
- 625,645 68.1%
Ages 65+
- 204,864 22.3%
Gender
Female
- 491,616 53.5%
Male
- 424,533 46.2%
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!
COVID-19 Questions?
Our team of Customer Service Representatives are ready to help answer any question.
Call our COVID-19 Call Center at:
815.774.7386
The call center can help…
- Schedule, Reschedule or Cancel your COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment through the Will County Health Department
- Find a COVID-19 Vaccination Location near you
- Find a COVID-19 Testing Location near you
- Answer basic COVID-19 questions:
• Information on available COVID-19 Vaccinations
• General COVID-19 Vaccine related guidelines
• Where to locate guidelines on the CDC website - Sign up for the Will County Health Department Weekly Newsletter
- Obtain Proof of COVID-19 Vaccinations
Call Center Hours of Operations:
Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM