COVID-19 News Update
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
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.
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.
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.
Booster Doses
Local Health Departments have not been given approval to begin Pfizer Booster Vaccination Administration. Once Local Health Department’s receive guidance from Illinois Department of Public Health, information on our website and in our newsletter will be updated to reflect Booster rollout in Will County. Booster dose appointments cannot yet be scheduled or administered.
COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine Booster Shot was approved for the following populations that initially received a two-dose series of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine:
- people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine
- people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine
- people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19
- people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine
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 Vaccines. If you received the one-dose Johnson and Johnson or the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine you cannot receive a Pfizer booster.
Read the CDC Statement on ACIP Booster Recommendations 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
Masks do not prevent the spread of COVID-19.
FACT
Virus particles do not travel alone – they travel inside droplets or aerosols. Masks help block droplets and aerosols, significantly slowing and reducing the spread of COVID-19.
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
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.
The importance of pregnant women being vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people aged 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19.
Based on new evidence about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, CDC is strengthening its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order requires masks for all individuals over the age or two and vaccinations or weekly testing for all healthcare personnel, school personnel in K-12, and higher education staff and students.
This extension will allow those mandated in this order additional time to secure testing for their staff. The vaccination mandate extension is for healthcare providers, school personnel in K-12, and higher education staff and students.
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
1,102
Cases: Total Per 100K
159.54
Positivity Rate
3.74%
Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics
Joliet Pride Festival
Bicentennial Park
201 W Jefferson Street, Joliet
September 25th from Noon to 3pm
Beecher Farmers Market
625 Dixie Hwy, Beecher
September 25th from 9am to 1pm
Oktoberfest
200 Second Street, Manhattan
October 9th from 9am to 11am
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.
Second dose appointments at the Joliet or Bolingbrook office will receive a gift card, while supplies last.
Click a link below to schedule your first dose vaccine online.
(2nd dose appointments will be made at the time of the first appointment.)
Second dose appointments at the Joliet or Bolingbrook office will receive a gift card, while supplies last.
If you need a second dose appointment,
call 815-774-7386 to schedule your second dose.
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.
We are now offering scheduling to the Will County Health Department Vaccine Clinics through our COVID-19 appointment scheduling phone line.
Call to Schedule your Vaccine with the Will County Health Department
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.
Our Progress
Over 55% of the population in Will County Are Fully Vaccinated!
Total number of vaccines administered
783,857
9/24/21
Total complete doses
383,108
9/24/21
55.34%
of population fully vaccinated
Demographic Breakdown
RACE/ETHNICITY
%
WHITE
469,960
%
HISPANIC
113,628
%
BLACK
73,372
%
ASIAN
56,750
Age
Ages 12-17
- 73,212 9.34%
Ages 18-64
- 551,216 70.3%
Ages 65+
- 159,411 20.3%
Gender
Female
- 417,802 53.3%
Male
- 363,664 46.4%
Tell Us What You Think
TAKE OUR SURVEY
We need your help! Will County Health Department needs your input on the COVID-19 vaccination to help us better understand where our communities stand on the vaccine. We are working to better center our education and outreach efforts to address concerns and questions about the vaccine and ensure that everyone has equitable access to the vaccine.
We are asking you to take just 5-10 minutes to express your views on the vaccine through this completely anonymous survey. You can complete this survey regardless of whether you have taken the vaccine or not; we need input from everyone. Your responses will not be personally connected to you in any way. We encourage you to express your thoughts so we can better serve our communities.
Thank you so much!
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.