Online vaccine scheduling available in DeKalb County as more doses expected

DeKalb County residents or those who work in the county can now make their own COVID-19 vaccine appointments and pick a date and time through an online scheduling system with the DeKalb County Health Department.

Appointments will be through the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center. To schedule an appointment and see available times, including for first or second doses, go to https://tinyurl.com/wsjafn6k. Those who need to schedule a second dose appointment can do so using the online scheduler. If you need help scheduling, call 815-748-2401. To see if you qualify for 1B+, visit https://health.dekalbcounty.org/about/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination/. On Monday, religious leaders, restaurant workers and tradesperson will become eligible.

When you make the free appointment, you’ll be emailed a confirmation notice and a QR code, which is a digital stamp the National Guard will use to check you in upon arrival at the Convocation Center. You’ll be expected to fill out a consent form and answer health history questions, and will be given a CDC vaccine card when done. You should also bring with you a photo ID and proof of employment if that is your eligibility, such as a work badge or pay stub. You will be able to schedule your second dose at the time of your first dose at the Convocation Center.

Though vaccine supply and appointments remain limited to only those who live or work in DeKalb County and are eligible through Phase 1B+ through the Restore Illinois plan, more vaccine is on the way, Gonzalez said.

“We’re still vaccinating as fast as we can at this point, but it’s still based on allotment,” said Lisa Gonzalez, public health administrator for the health department Friday. “So if the state wants to send in other teams to get more vaccinations into people’s arms, then great.”

Age restrictions for vaccine provider

As the county expands vaccine allotment to include more than just Moderna, which has been the go-to for the health department, local health officials issued a reminder: Pfizer is currently the only vaccine eligible for those 16 or 17 years of age.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are recommended for those 18 or older. That’s because clinical trials to approve the drug did not include younger ages, Gonzalez said.

That means as eligibility expands, those who are 16 or 17 should be mindful to only receive the Pfizer vaccine. Trials for both other vaccines in younger ages are currently underway, Gonzalez said.

So far in DeKalb County, health officials have administered mostly Moderna and about 2,000 Pfizer vaccines.

In response to increasing cases of COVID-19 in the Region 1 counties of Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside, state public health officials announced Friday the Illinois Department of Public Health is sending rapid response vaccination teams to Sauk Valley next week to distribute one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

That team doesn’t include DeKalb County, but Gonzalez said she believes the first doses of Johnson & Johnson will arrive locally as early as next week.

More vaccine on the way

As of March 25, the health department has administered over 20,000 doses, according to a weekly newsletter.

Gonzalez said in the weeks ahead, second dose allocations will remain higher than first too account for second doses coming due.

The health department this week and last week received 1,170 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to use at the Convo Center, Gonzalez said. According to weekly vaccine allocation data released by IDPH, the state’s most recent weekly allocation is for 1,700 first doses and 4,370 second doses to DeKalb County, expected next week. That’s a significant jump from this past week’s allocations: 2,100 first doses and 700 second doses.

As of Friday, 11.44% of DeKalb County residents have been fully vaccinated.

While the health department continues to reach out to those who signed up for an availability notification via email, vaccine demand has shifted, prompting the self-scheduler to be the better organizing tool, Gonzalez said.

“Our demand is starting to shift a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “We’re not seeing as much demand from 65 and older. We’re still seeing demand from the 1B+ category.”