COVID-19 News Update
March 19, 2021
Welcome to our new COVID-19 News Update. Each week, we will be sending you the latest updates on vaccination locations, how to register for a vaccine, our progress and other vital information on our plans to defeat COVID-19 in Will County and ensure everyone is healthy and safe.
WILL COUNTY IS IN PHASE 1b
We are currently in Phase 1b which includes residents 65 or older and essential frontline workers. This includes first responders, teachers, postal service workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, manufacturing workers, food and agriculture workers, shelters/adult day care staff and residents.
Our top priority is to vaccinate vulnerable populations which include our 65+ population who are more adversely affected when they contract COVID-19 than our younger populations. With the limited supply of vaccines available, we are remaining Phase 1b until we have been able to vaccinate more of our 65+ residents.
Our Progress
Will County is making progress to vaccinate our residents and workers. When we first received the vaccine in December, our focus was on vaccinating Health Care Workers. We began offering the vaccination to residents over the age of 65, frontline workers, teachers, and caregivers in early February. Currently, anyone in Phase Ib is eligible for a vaccine.
Total number of vaccines administered
204,012
3/19/21
Total complete doses
77,491
3/19/21
11.19%
of population fully vaccinated
Demographic Breakdown
RACE/ETHNICITY
%
WHITE
132,880
%
HISPANIC
21,692
%
BLACK
14,243
%
ASIAN
12,239
Age
Ages 16-64
- 123,588 60.6%
Ages 65+
- 80,424 39.4%
Gender
Female
- 124,628 61.1%
Male
- 78,812 38.6%
FIND A VACCINE LOCATION
57 VACCINATION SITES
The Will County Health Department is leading the charge to give access to the vaccine for residents and workers in our county. In addition to the Health Department sites, we have partnered with local pharmacies and community based organizations to hold vaccination clinics. Vaccinations are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Search for a location and follow the steps for that location to register and schedule an appointment.
TWO NEW VACCINE CLINICS OPENING IN WILMINGTON & MONEE
The Will County Executive Office and Will County Health Department announced another milestone in beating the COVID-19 virus by opening Community Vaccination Clinics in Wilmington beginning March 23 and Monee beginning March 30.
Opens March 23
St. Rose School
626 S Kankakee St
Wilmington, IL 60481
Opens March 30
Monee Clinic
6370 W. Emerald Pkwy
Monee, IL 60449
The two locations will provide access to vaccinations for residents and workers in Will County who qualify under Phase 1b.
“Access to vaccinations is vital to winning the battle against the devastating effect of COVID-19 and getting our county back to normal,” said Jennifer Bertino Tarrant, County Executive. “These two clinics will provide critical access to our people who live and work in Will County.”
The clinics will provide vaccinations by appointment only, will be open Tuesday-Sunday and will begin vaccinating residents who qualify under Phase 1b.
“The opening of these two clinics will allow the Will County Health Department’s Vaccine Action Team to triple our current vaccination capacity,” said Sue Olenek, Executive Director of the Will County Health Department. “We want to encourage everyone who meets the criteria for Phase Ib to register for the vaccination clinics at WillCountyHealth.org.”
Will County residents who qualify for Phase 1b and are registered and live in southern or eastern Will County will receive an email, text or phone call with an invitation to schedule their appointment at their respective clinic.
To register for these clinics residents who qualify should register online by clicking here for English and here for Espanol.
Questions about the clinic call our Hotline at 815.740.8977
HOW DO YOU SCHEDULE A VACCINE WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT?
There are three steps to scheduling a vaccine with the Will County Health Department:
- REGISTER.
Fill out the County Health Department registration form by clicking here for English or here for Spanish. - BE READY.
Once you register, your name will be placed in the queue for when vaccines become available based on the Phase of Vaccinations. Currently, we are in Phase IB. - RSVP.
When vaccines are available, we will invite you to schedule an appointment. You will receive a phone call, a text message and/or an email through our system to schedule an appointment.
There are currently over 230,000 individuals registered with the County. The only thing keeping us from vaccinating all of them right now is the amount of vaccines we receive from the State of Illinois and the Phase that we are operating under. We make the vaccines available to the public through our clinics and our partner clinics within 24 hours of receiving them. Please be patient as we work to get to you, but also check with our partner clinics who may be able to schedule an appointment for you through their system.
GOVERNOR PRITZKER ANNOUNCED ILLINOIS IS MOVING TO PHASE 5 EXPANSION OF VACCINE ELIGIBILITY BEGINNING APRIL 12th
Governor Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced on March 18th a metrics-based, vaccination-informed framework for Illinois to advance to Phase 5 of the state’s Restore Illinois Plan, our new normal. In recognition of an increasing national vaccine supply and the state now averaging 100,000 vaccine administrations per day, Governor Pritzker also announced that all Illinois residents age 16+ will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 12th, with additional announcements to come about populations who will be made eligible prior to universal eligibility.
Currently, every region of the state is in Phase 4 of the five-phase Restore Illinois mitigation plan, with Phase 5 comprising a post-pandemic normalcy as detailed here. The newly announced metrics offer Illinois a bridge between the state’s current Phase 4 restrictions and the “new normal” operations of Phase 5. This “Bridge Phase” will serve as a transition period with higher capacity limits and increased business operations, without prematurely embracing a reckless reopening before the majority of Illinoisans have been vaccinated. All regions of the state will move through the Bridge Phase and ultimately to Phase 5, together. The state’s mask mandate will continue in accordance with current CDC guidance.
Click here to read the Governor’s full press statement.
VACCINE SAFETY
The vaccines are remarkably effective at preventing infections and severe illness from COVID-19.
These vaccines represent a chance to protect our loved ones, friends, neighbors, and even strangers who we interact with in grocery store lines or in a doctor’s office elevator.
Please encourage everyone in your circle to get vaccinated. For more information on the safety protocols and how the vaccines were developed, visit the CDC by clicking here.
QUESTIONS & CONCERNS?
CALL OUR HOTLINE.
815.740.8977
The Will County Health Department is providing a Coronavirus hotline to help answer your questions about COVID-19.
HOURS: Mon-Fri 8AM-4PM
Please call with any questions you may have and we will be happy to help you.