McHenry Times

McHenry County issued the following announcement on Dec. 28.

The McHenry County Health Department (MCDH) reports receiving the first allotment of COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccine has been safely distributed to, or is in the process of being distributed, to McHenry County hospital systems and participating long-term care facilities.

The initial shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are being distributed to Mercyhealth and Northwestern Medicine facilities in McHenry County as well as long-term care/congregate living facilities who chose to receive vaccines from MCDH to administer to their own staff and residents. Long-term care facilities were given the option to coordinate with CVS and Walgreens to provide residents and staff with the doses or work with their local health department.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its second emergency use authorization to Moderna on Dec. 18.

“Our goal is to get everyone in McHenry County their vaccine doses. The first step is to get everyone in Phase 1a vaccinated. We ask for everyone’s patience as it will take time before the vaccine is available to the general public,” said MCDH Public Health Administrator Melissa Adamson. "Offering protection to our healthcare workers, who have selflessly put themselves at risk since the start of this pandemic, and to those living in long-term care facilities who disproportionately suffered more hospitalizations and deaths compared to the rest of the population, is a great way to begin 2021 and an even better beginning to the end of this pandemic.”

MCDH is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) three-phased vaccine prioritization recommendation. Phase 1 is three-tiered with frontline healthcare personnel and long-term care facilities being in Phase 1a tier. This first allotment of vaccines will be provided to all interested hospital personnel, emergency medical service personnel and long-term care facility staff and residents as defined in Phase 1a of the prioritization recommendations.

After all those within the Phase 1a priority group who wishes to be vaccinated has done so, vaccines will be available to the Phase 1b group, which currently includes essential infrastructure workers (e.g., Education Sector, Food & Agriculture, Utilities, Police, Firefighters, Corrections Officers, Transportation). The Phase 1c group includes adults with high-risk medical conditions and adults 65 years and older who do not reside in a long-term care facility.

In accordance with the prioritized group recommendations issued by the CDC, MCDH is anticipating moving from Phase 1a to Phase 1b in the coming weeks. To provide vaccines as efficiently and safely as possible, MCDH will be using an electronic registration system for all COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

The Phase 1b group will need to be further prioritized until vaccine allotments received by the health department can concurrently accommodate several workforces. MCDH is in the process of communicating with Phase 1b groups and will notify these groups when clinics are available to them by either direct notification or by e-notification.

MCDH will notify the public when it has begun to provide vaccine doses to the Phase 1b priority group and the prioritization within that group.

The public is advised to continue taking universal precautions until a vaccine becomes widely available which includes the 3Ws: wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your social distance. Avoid social gatherings and get tested if you think you have been exposed.

“To obtain full efficacy of the vaccine, 2 doses are needed,” said MCDH Public Health Nursing Director Susan Karras. “Stay informed with our vaccination progress in McHenry County through our e-notification, and register for your vaccine when it becomes available to you.”

To receive updated information about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution in McHenry County, please visit and sign up for MCDH e-notifications. Instructions on how to sign up and other frequently asked questions about the vaccine are available on MCDH's COVID-19 Vaccine page.

Original source can be found here.