April 18, 2024
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Providers administer over 1M doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Health department reports 60% of Lake County residents are fully vaccinated

By Lake County Journal staff report

Candace H. Johnson-for Shaw Media In this April 2021 file photo, Silvia Rivera, of Chicago, medical assistant with Doctors Test Centers, gives the COVID-19 vaccine to Mary Hernandez, of Mundelein during a vaccination event at the Schreiber Center for Human Services in Round Lake. (Candace H.Johnson)

WAUKEGAN -- The Lake County Health Department is pleased to share that Lake County vaccine providers have administered over 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Lake County residents.

According to data provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health, more than 69% of eligible Lake County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 60% are fully vaccinated, according to a news release.

“We have come a long way since we administered our first dose in December 2020,” Mark Pfister, executive director of the Lake County Health Department, said in the release. “We want to thank all of the Lake County residents who made the choice to protect their community and get vaccinated. We also want to extend our appreciation to all our community volunteers and partners, pharmacies, medical providers, hospitals and corporations who have administered vaccinations and helped us reach this milestone.”

With over 200 vaccination sites throughout Lake County, residents are encouraged to explore their options for vaccination. Many providers, pharmacies, and community clinics offer appointments and walk-ups for both first and second doses as well as booster shots. You can visit www.vaccines.gov to find a vaccine location near you.

Health Department community clinics in Waukegan and Round Lake are open to all people ages 5 and older who need their first or second dose. Limited appointments at these clinics are available at AllVax.lakecohealth.org.

Households already registered in the AllVax Portal are encouraged to add their children as a household member, rather than setting up a separate account for them. Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive their vaccine at a Lake County Health Department vaccination site.

“While the number of administered vaccines is encouraging, we still have to remain vigilant to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Sana Ahmed, medical epidemiologist of the Lake County Health Department, said in the release. “This means continuing to follow the 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance; and getting the vaccine if you haven’t already.”

A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 2 weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or two weeks after the single dose of the Janssen vaccine. It is important to take increased caution until fully vaccinated.