March 28, 2024
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First COVID-19 vaccine delivery to Kendall County may arrive next week, officials told

142 have volunteered to assist with health department's mass vaccination program

Due to lack of a local hospital and a low COVID-19 death rate, Kendall County won't be first in line to receive Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine that is now being distributed across the country and in Illinois, RaeAnn VanGundy, executive direrector of the Kendall County Health Deparment, told the county board Tuesday morning, Dec. 15.

"We are expected to get a shipment perhaps next week but we don't know for sure," VanGundy said. "We don't know how many (doses). We don't know a lot of things."

VanGundy did say the vaccine will go to health care workers first, adding that her office has reached out to coordinate vaccination with the Rush-Copley emergency room in Yorkville, local dentists and first responders.

"It's a full team effort," VanGundy said. "A lot of unknowns but we will unravel it as it comes to us."

A total of 142 people have applied to volunteer in helping the health department jumpstart the health department's planned mass vaccination program. VanGundy said many of the volunteers ar nurses who will help in "relieving the burden on our staff."

"Those volunteers are going to be very critical to our outreach and we're thankful to the community for the outreach we have received," Van Gundy remarked.