As the battle to get more than 35 percent of Vermilion County’s population vaccinated against COVID continues, Vermilion County Board District 6 Representative Mary Surprenant gave a passionate speech during Tuesday night’s County Board meeting about the need to get the leaders and well known officials in this county more involved, and form a community coalition to spread the word, that vaccinations are needed.
AUDIO: All of the heavy hitters in town: those that help make the decisions, those folks that are in the limelight, as well as those interested in advocating for vaccinations that may have in the past have not said much. But they too see the relevance of coming together to share that message.
Health Department spokesperson Douglas Toole says that’s a great idea, because it seems famous celebrities and athletes are not what’s needed IN THIS CASE to convince people to do what’s needed.
AUDIO: We have a lot more impact by having someone locally who’s respected say that they are comfortable getting the vaccination. It’s really key for local elected officials and church leaders and service club members and prominent people in the community to talk more.
The latest COVID numbers from the Vermilion County Health Department showed 37 new cases over the previous two days, 24 of those under the age of 20. There were also five additional deaths reported, bringing the total numbers of COVID deaths in Vermilion County to 174. The addition deaths included two females in their 30s, two males in their 60s, and a male in his 90s.
