April 20, 2024
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Joliet Fire Department has plan to vaccinate for COVID-19, says it needs to hear from Will County

By Bob Okon

Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey, seen here in March at a city press conference on the coronavirus outbreak, said Tuesday that the Joliet Fire Department has a plan in place for providing vaccinations to teachers, seniors and others eligible for the next round of vaccinations. (Geoff Stellfox)

Joliet officials said Tuesday that they are not getting the information they need from the Will County Health Department to get moving on COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Joliet Fire Department has a plan in place to begin vaccinating seniors and others eligible for the next round of vaccinations but has little idea when that might happen, officials said.

The issue came up at City Council meeting but has been brewing for at least a week.

Fire Chief Greg Blaskey earlier in the day said the fire department already has made arrangements with local school officials to set up a vaccination clinic in the field house at Joliet West High School for seniors, teachers and others who may become eligible next week.

The best information that he has been able to determine is that the county will not be ready for another month.

“I don’t know if there are any vaccines on hand,” Blaskey said at the council meeting. “We have not been given that information.”

City Manager James Capparelli said the issue came to his attention on his first day on the job Jan. 11 and he began making calls to county officials. But they have not been returned.

“People’s lives are at stake,” Capparelli said. “If they have the vaccines, let’s get people vaccinated.”

The issue was raised at the meeting by Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, who said he expected the city to make an announcement on the matter on Wednesday.

“We’re officially requesting the county to contact Chief Blaskey or myself or Mr. Capparelli,” O’Dekirk said.

O’Dekirk asked questions of Blaskey, Capparelli and Councilwoman Jan Quillman, bringing out their statements on the matter.

Quillman said the only person she has been able to reach is the health department’s public information officer.

“I said, ‘What’s going on because Joliet’s ready to go?’” Quillman said.

Blaskey said that while Joliet paramedics can provide vaccinations the city will need help from the county to get it done.

“We feel very confident that we have a plan in place,” Blaskey said. “What we need the county to do is the scheduling as well as the documentation.”






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