COVID-19 News Update
April 2, 2021
OVER 100,000 FULLY VACCINATED
Will County achieved a milestone this week by administering the 100,000th second dose! As of Friday, April 2, we have 102,903 Fully Vaccinated individuals.
OPEN SCHEDULING BEGINS THE WEEK OF APRIL 12th!
Will County Health Department will be opening up the scheduling for 1st Dose Vaccine Clinics administered by the county on our website beginning the week of April 12th.
“Residents will no longer have to register for the vaccine,” said Sue Olenek, Executive Director of the Will County Health Department. “This will provide everyone greater access to appointments as soon as the vaccines become available.”
Our Progress
Total number of vaccines administered
287,232
4/2/21
Total complete doses
102,903
4/2/21
14.86%
of population fully vaccinated
Demographic Breakdown
RACE/ETHNICITY
%
WHITE
187,570
%
HISPANIC
32,138
%
BLACK
21,518
%
ASIAN
19,268
Age
Ages 16-64
- 182,190 63.4%
Ages 65+
- 105,038 36.6%
Gender
Female
- 168,862 58.8%
Male
- 117,675 41.0%
NEW VACCINE CLINIC OPENED APRIL 1st at former Toys R Us store
The Will County Health Department has partnered with the Illinois National Guard to administer approximately 800 vaccines per day at the new Vaccine Clinic located at the former Toys R Us store located at 3128 Voyager Ln. Joliet, IL 60431.
Will County Health Department and Will County Emergency Management Agency transformed the vacant store into a space suitable for a vaccine clinic in less than a week with the help of the Illinois Department of Public Health and the National Guard.
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County Executive, said the county was grateful for the help of the IDPH and National Guard. She said staff from the county health department and Emergency Management Agency have been working around the clock to open more vaccination clinics.
“As soon as supplies were ramped up, we had the means to get these larger facilities ready,” she said.
County officials are still discussing the possibility of opening another mass vaccination site in the northern part of the county to reach the larger population there. Talks have been ongoing about potentially using the Joliet Junior College northern campus in Romeoville.
Sue Olenek, the executive director of the Will County Health Department, said appointment slots at the Toys “R” Us site already have filled up through most of April, but other providers around the county have open spots for appointments. More slots will be added as vaccines become available.
FIND A VACCINE LOCATION
58 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.
PRACTICE THE THREE W’s
TO STAY MOVING FORWARD
We are very encouraged by the daily increasing number of Will County residents who are receiving their COVID-19 vaccines. However, we are also very concerned by the rising number of positive cases of COVID-19 and we want to remind people to be vigilant and continue to practice mitigation efforts.
It has been an extremely long time since any of us have experienced normalcy in our daily lives. I understand the serious economic, educational, social, and emotional impacts of this virus. Everything in our lives has changed. I also understand the vaccine is offering tremendous hope that we will be “getting back to normal” soon. But we must trust the science that has developed these vaccines and understand there is a period of time before we can forgo the protective measures of wearing a mask, washing our hands, and watching our distance.
Our Health Department, our Emergency Management Agency and a dedicated team of volunteers are working tirelessly to offer vaccines to as many residents as our supply will allow in a safe and efficient manner. I am extremely proud of the patient, courteous manner of our residents who are coming to our clinics, anxious to receive their vaccine. We have been serving more than 1,000 people on a daily basis in our health department and at our mass vaccination clinics. The more than 50 partner agencies across the county have also been serving inordinate numbers of our residents.
Despite the “warp speed” of creating and distributing these vaccines, we need to exercise caution and continue to observe the three W’s – wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance – until we are assured a majority of our residents are fully vaccinated and protected. I am encouraged we are nearing the end of this “dark” time, but understand it will take some time to fully recover physically, economically, and socially.
Thank you to all of our health care workers, first responders, essential workers, and volunteers who have made sacrifices to keep Will County safe. We have demonstrated that we are resilient and know how to work together. Let’s continue our efforts and remember – Together We Will Win!
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Will County Executive
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.