Clinic at Joliet West High School begins vaccinating older residents

The vaccination site at Joliet West High School has already begun vaccinating residents age 65 and over for COVID-19.

AMITA Health and the Joliet Fire Department originally opened the site to vaccinate teachers in Joliet Township High School District 204 and other schools nearby. After workers there had already vaccinated more than 4,000 teachers and staff, they started taking appointments for older residents who are also eligible for vaccines under Phase 1B of the state’s distribution plan.

Joliet Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Carey said by the end of the second week the clinic had been vaccinating, he expected about 6,000 doses to have been administered without any wasted.

That’s meant giving some doses to individuals who had not originally registered as required through the Will County Health Department. There have been times when the clinic has had a few extra doses which workers did not want to go to waste.

Clinic workers have taken advantage of some people waiting outside the site in hopes of receiving an extra dose. Some days, Carey said, they’ve had to give out those extra doses to those waiting, or else the vaccine would go to waste.

But this only happens if the vaccines they receive on a particular day have a needle with a specific length which allows the paramedics to extract an extra dose out of a vile.

Still, Carey said they have had to turn down some wanting a shot because they hadn’t registered though the health department. Registration can be done at willcountyhealth.org.

Carey added he still hopes the clinic can vaccinate about 1,000 people per day, or about 5,000 per week.

The Will County Health Department has also been vaccinating residents eligible under Phase 1B at its facility in Joliet.

Silver Cross Hospital has vaccinated more than 1,000 teachers and educational staff in Will County earlier this month.

Still, county officials said the possibility of establishing more vaccine sites and appointments will depend on more supplies coming from the state and federal governments.