Former Kmart Building Donated, Turned Into Vaccination Center

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL —Vaccines may be hard to come by right now in McHenry County, but officials are hopeful that soon will change.

On Thursday, county officials announced a new mass vaccination center will soon open in a vacant Kmart building in McHenry, according to media reports. The former Kmart building, at 1900 N. Richmond Avenue, has been vacant for 12 years.

Volunteers, business owner and officials with the city of McHenry worked together to quickly convert the space into a mass vaccination facility in just 11 days, officials said Thursday.

The building will be turned over to the McHenry County Department of Health on Friday afternoon and vaccine distribution could start next week. But, unfortunately, the opening of the center comes at a time when vaccines are scarce.

Officials also said Thursday, McHenry County will receive a "significantly reduced" supply of vaccines meant for residents looking to get their first dose over the next several weeks as the state instead prioritizes shipments for those due to get their second shot, according to a statement from McHenry County.

In addition, inclement weather is delaying shipments of COVID-19 vaccines to the state.

“The amount of vaccines that McHenry County has been receiving has been far short of what we need, but once supply comes closer to meeting the enormous demand, we’ll be ready to ramp up, thanks to the hard work and generosity of the people of McHenry,” said McHenry County Board Chairman Mike Buehler. “We understand how frustrated people are with the pace – we hear you. We are ready to roll once we get a steadier and more reliable flow of vaccine.”

The facility will offer inoculations by appointment to people who have enrolled through MCDH. The enrollment form can be accessed online or through its COVID-19 Call Center at 815-334-4045.

The building that once housed Kmart, located at 1900 N. Richmond Avenue, will serve as a closed point of distribution, which means a specific, targeted group eligible to receive a vaccine will be able to set up an appointment to get their shot at the clinic, according to Shaw Media.

BET Investments donated the 87,000-square-foot building, McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett said. Other local donors include Sherwin Williams, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4600, Home Depot, Prairieland Disposal, Jett's Heating & Air, Eby Graphics and ZFRM Law.

“The city of McHenry is truly appreciative of our community business partners who came
together to make this mass vaccination site a reality,” Jett said. “We are honored to partner with the Department of Health to assist them in their mission to vaccinate McHenry County. I wish to extend special thanks to BET Investments for providing us an 87,000-square-foot building, and to all our local partners for their gracious donations. We couldn't have put this plan together without them.”

The county also has mass vaccination sites planned at the public works facility in Algonquin and County fairgrounds. Both locations will be utilized once the weather gets better, McHenry County Department of Health spokeswoman Lindsey Salvatelli told the Northwest Herald.

Meanwhile, Buehler has been pushing the state to provide more vaccines to McHenry County. On Thursday, county officials said vaccines supplies remain limited and many of the doses the local health department receives from the state are shared with its community health partners throughout the county so that Phase 1a and 1b recipients, starting with first responders and those 65 and older, have closer and faster access.

The remaining doses will be utilized by the MCDH for its vaccination clinics.

“We owe a big thank you to the City of McHenry for their contributions in standing up a
permanent vaccination site for the county,”said Melissa Adamson, public health administrator for the McHenry County Department of Health. “This location will serve as the primary vaccination site and the size of this facility will allow us to grow our vaccination efforts as more vaccine comes online. We are extremely fortunate to be a part of a team working toward a common goal to meet the needs of our residents.”

There are several options for residents to receive a vaccine. Some regional hospital systems, clinics and other community partners are vaccinating their patients that are eligible in Phase 1a and 1b and may reach out directly to schedule an appointment.

There are also state and federal partnerships with retail pharmacies in McHenry County. Anyone may enroll at those sites to be vaccinated.

To find a location vaccinating near you, residents should check out the IDPH's vaccination locator site.