Coronavirus Vaccine Shipment Arrives In Joliet, Will County

JOLIET, IL — A total of 4,960 doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine arrived Wednesday at the Will County Health Department in Joliet and the doses were delivered to four hospitals across the county, health department spokesman Steve Brandy told Joliet Patch.

The Pfizer vaccines went to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital in New Lenox, Silver Cross Hospital and AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in Bolingbrook.

Brandy said this initial vaccine is being given to doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who work in Will County.

"This is the big moment we've all been waiting for," Brandy told Joliet Patch. "The shipment arrived mid-day. We're happy with this amount. We're going to get another shipment next week, but we don't know if it's going to be Pfizer or Moderna. It's kind of a learning curve as we go."

New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann told Patch he was happy that many of the Pfizer doses are coming to New Lenox's two hospitals. Silver Cross is the largest employer in the village, he said.

"We're very grateful that we have so many health care workers in our community that have risked their personal safety to tend to those who have contracted this highly contagious virus," Baldermann said Wednesday night. "Now, we're happy to see that they're able to be the first ones to receive this vaccine so they can continue to provide the quality health care that we've become accustomed to."

The Will County Executive's Office of newly elected Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant also issued a news release on Wednesday's vaccine shipment.

“Today is a great day in Will County as we witness the beginning of the end of this pandemic,” Bertino-Tarrant said in a news release. “Through this meticulously coordinated effort between the state, the county and county health department and local hospitals, our healthcare workers could begin receiving these vaccinations as soon as this evening.”

Sue Olenek, executive director of the county health department, said it's great to have the vaccine out and being distributed locally "but it will take a long time before the general public is vaccinated. That means we must continue to wear our masks properly, be aware of social distancing, and avoid large groups and gatherings, especially during the coming Christmas and New Year’s holidays. As we move through the various phases of the vaccination process we ask for the public to educate themselves and be patient.”

Brandy, the health department spokesman, told Joliet Patch the vaccine is not expected to be available for public until the early months of 2021.

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