Dear Boone County Residents and Workers,
Thank you for your patience as we worked through the process of enhancing our systems to bring you ongoing, timely communications. Because of the overwhelming response we received from the community, we have shifted to a new platform to increase the efficiency of sending out vaccine-related emails, texts and phone calls.
Going forward you will receive email updates from vaccine@boonehealth.org. This email address is not monitored by staff and is used for sending emails, only. Should you choose to contact the Boone County Health Department on COVID-19 matters, please continue to email them at COVID19@boonehealth.org.
As a reminder, by signing up to receive ongoing communications this does not put you on a registration list for the vaccine.
BOONE COUNTY VACCINATION ROLL-OUT UPDATE
We are continuing to vaccinate individuals who fall within Phase 1A. If you fall within Phase 1A and have not been contacted yet, please call the Boone County Health Department’s COVID-19 Information Line at (815) 547-8561, to be scheduled.
The Walgreens/CVS Federal Partnership with the Centers for Disease Control has helped us vaccinate healthcare workers and long-term care facility workers. This made a significant impact in our timeline and ability to complete Phase 1A. As of the last week in January, all long-term care facilities in Boone County have been visited once and first doses have been administered. Now begins the waiting period between doses. These private pharmacy partners will return to our community and administer second doses at these facilities.
To view recent updates from the Boone County Health Department, recorded presentations can be found HERE.
Phase 1B began in Boone County the week of January 25th.
While Phase 1B of the Illinois Vaccination Plan includes essential workers and those 65 and over, we want to remind everyone in the Phase 1B group that there is currently a limited supply of vaccine and resources for vaccinations. Therefore, most in this group will not be vaccinated right away. It will take longer than the 4-6 weeks it took us to get through Phase 1A. Phase 1B will take months.
We do know that with an increase in more providers coming online to receive vaccine shipments, schedule appointments, and administer vaccine as well as the potential for additional vaccine suppliers, this will help us complete Phase 1B as quickly as possible. We will continue to share more information as we receive it.
To view the most recent State of Illinois Mass Vaccination Plan, go to https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccination-plan.
The Boone County Health Department understands your readiness to be vaccinated. They are working diligently to vaccinate as many Boone County residents and workers, as quickly and efficiently as possible. We ask for your continued patience and understanding as the Health Department works through the priorities, as they are given by the State.
The estimated allocations that the health department is receiving for Phase 1B will be based on population and not based on estimates of workers in particular sectors. The Boone County Health Department continues to receive weekly allotments, but those can vary between 200-600 doses each week. We are expecting that this will increase over the next few weeks. Amanda Mehl, public health administrator of the Boone County Health Department has requested additional vaccines based on population, volunteers, and local partners who have increased the ability to execute plans to administer additional vaccines.
This first week of February, Boone County will continued with second doses for those in Phase 1A who are due for a second dose, as well as continue with first responders and the education sector.
Boone County will also moved forward with their first kick-off to a closed point of distribution in our manufacturing sector. They are running a vaccination pilot with SwedishAmerican and Stellantis (formerly known as FCA). Upon completion of the manufacturing pilot, they will duplicate that clinic model, using lessons learned, to roll out vaccinations with the rest of our local manufacturers. Dependent on vaccine supply, this is targeted to begin the second week of February.
Please remember, the Boone County Health Department does not accept walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations, nor are these vaccinations given at our primary office.
ADDITIONAL VACCINATION LOCATIONS
As we shared last week, there are several private suppliers working to get online to be able to schedule COVID-19 Vaccinations for eligible members of the Phase 1B group.
Though these pharmacies will be working to meet the needs of those in Phase 1B, vaccine supplies remain limited. It is important to know that appointments are required at pharmacies. You will not be able to walk-in and receive the vaccine without making an appointment first.
The State of Illinois has launched a new website where Illinois residents and workers can find vaccine locations. Please be aware that all vaccinations are by appointment only, even at these additional locations.
While pharmacies will remain adherent to the Illinois Phases, they may prioritize individuals in each sub-group differently. The Boone County Health Department will continue to follow the guidelines given by the Illinois Department of Public Health and will fully cooperate with other vaccine administrators as we combat COVID-19 together.
We do ask that once you receive your first vaccine that you use the same provider for your second dose, to avoid any confusion and to ensure you are receiving the same brand of vaccine.
INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS 65+
The Boone County Health Department is in the process of setting up specific clinics to vaccinate those residents 65 and older. The target for those clinics is the second to third full week in February, if all goes well with our partners.
To help with communication of this, we have partnered with the Boone County Council on Aging/Keen Age Center to hold weekly calls with those 65 and older to give an update on vaccination progress and continued plans in Boone County.
If you are a Boone County resident or worker aged 65 and over, you may join these calls at (712) 770-4994; use Access Code 138168#.
Learn more on how to participate in these calls and how to ask questions, by viewing the instructions HERE.
You may also listen to previous recordings HERE.
HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH SHARING INFORMATION
As you see notifications from us that we are working those sub sectors of phase 1B, please tell everyone you know who fit into those groups that lives or works in Boone county that they are eligible, and they should reach out to the Boone County Health Department to get scheduled. We don’t want to miss anybody. People who might have been a part of an earlier Phase and did not receive their vaccine, they can be scheduled during a current phase.
VACCINATION REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The Boone County Health Department has identified targeted groups which will receive invitations early next week to register for their vaccinations, using the State of Illinois’ EMTrack system. Boone County residents who are 65 and over and not currently in a targeted group will not have access to the registration at this time. However, they will be notified as soon as we are ready to accommodate them. This does mean that you will not be able to use EMTrack without an invitation, but once you receive the invitation, you will be able to schedule your vaccine. The Health Department will take vaccine appointments online as well as over the phone.
As pharmacies begin to register individuals for the vaccination, you may contact those pharmacies or view them online, to learn more about their registration process.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Boone County Health Department
As the Boone County Health Department continues to have high call and email volumes, they ask for your patience in answering and returning these messages.
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
COVID-19 Information Line: (815) 547-8561
COVID-19 Information Email: COVID19@boonehealth.org
More information can be found at www.forwardboone.org.
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