McHenry Co. Vaccine Distribution Doubles In 1 Month

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — In three weeks, eligibility for vaccinations will open up to most McHenry County residents. Meanwhile, the number of vaccines doled out daily has more than doubled in the past month here as more shots become available and more mass vaccination sites open up.

Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced vaccines could be given to all Illinois residents over the age of 16 years old starting on April 12. For now, though, vaccines are being doled out to residents meeting certain eligibility requirements set up by the state of Illinois.

Starting on March 22, the state expanded Phase 1b Plus to higher education staff, government workers and members of the media, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday. On March 29, the state will add restaurant staff, construction workers and religious leaders to the list. The eligibility requirements differ for the city of Chicago.

• Where To Sign Up For The Coronavirus Vaccine In Illinois

As of Monday, 4.748 million vaccines have been doled out across the state and 13.9 percent of the state's population is fully vaccinated. In McHenry County, 11.22 percent of residents have been fully vaccinated, and there have been 97,787 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine doled out to McHenry County residents so far.

Vaccine rollout started slow in Illinois, with winter weather delaying shipments and frustrations mounting in the face of limited supply, but that seems to be changing as vaccine eligibility expands and more mass vaccination sites open.

In McHenry County, the number of vaccines doled out daily has more than doubled in the past month. As of Monday, the seven-day rolling average for the daily number of vaccines being administered is 1,927. A month earlier, that number stood at 923.

Who is eligible?

Phase 1a (statewide)

• Health care workers
• Residents and staff in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities

Phase 1b (statewide)

• Anyone age 65 or older
• Frontline essential workers, including:
  • first reponders (fire, law enforcement, 911 workers, security personnel, school officers)
  • Education (teachers, school administrators and other school support staff, day care workers)
  • Food and agriculture (workers in processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services and animal care)
  • Manufacturing (Workers involved in the industrial production of goods)
  • Corrections workers and prisoners (correctional officers and prison staff, incarcerated individuals)
  • U.S. Postal Service workers
  • Public transit workers (flight crew, bus drivers, train conductors, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, in-person support, ride-sharing service drivers)
  • Grocery store workers (baggers, cashiers, stockers, pickup and customer service personnel)
  • Shelter and adult day care staff (Workers in homeless shelters, women's shelters, adult day/drop-in programs and sheltered workshops)

Phase 1b Plus (except in Chicago)

• Anyone with a medical condition that puts them at increased risk for the coronavirus disease, including:
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Pulmonary diseases
  • Smoking
  • Heart conditions
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Cancer
  • Solid Organ Transplant
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Any physical, developmental, visual, hearing or mental disability not covered in previous categories
• Higher education faculty and staff (starting March 22)
• Government workers (starting March 22)
• Media (starting March 22)
• Restaurant staff (starting March 29)
• Construction and trade workers (starting March 29)
• Religious leaders (starting March 29)

Phase 1c (starting March 29 in Chicago, but the rest of Illinois is skipping this phase)
All essential workers, including:

• Clergy and staff for religious organizations
• Employees of banks, credit unions, title companies, and other financial services workers
• Restaurant and bar workers
• Faculty and staff of colleges, universities, tech schools, trade schools and other higher education workers
• Information technology workers
• Judges, lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, bail bond agents, parole and probation officers and other legal workers
• Journalists, broadcasters, book publishers, librarians, and other media workers
• Personal care and hygiene workers
• Public safety workers, including civil engineers, chemical engineers, aerospace engineers, road workers, longshoremen and cybersecurity workers
• Retail workers
• Hotel and motel workers, real estate agents, construction and maintenance workers
• Gas station workers, bike supply and repair workers, delivery drivers, couriers, warehouse workers, mail carriers, bus drivers and other transportation and logistics workers
• Wastewater treatment workers, sanitary and storm maintenance crews

Phase 2 (Starting April 12 in most of Illinois and expected to start May 1 in Chicago)

• Everyone age 16 and older

MORE ON PATCH

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• 'Enroll Wherever You Can' For COVID Vaccine: Health Official