Danville’s downtown Fischer Theatre will be the site of weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics starting on Thursday, February 11th.
Vermilion County Health Department Administrator Doug Toole says the theatre has been chosen as the site for larger vaccination clinics, as it has the capacity for up to 600 people to be vaccinated per day.
Toole also outlined the next steps the health department is taking to administer vaccines. Next week, they will host one vaccination clinic for educators. During the first week of February, the health department will host three vaccine clinics in order to administer second doses to those who already received their first one and also first-time doses to educators.
750 people have already received their first-time doses at the county health department.
Starting this Friday, anyone who is currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to sign up using the department’s website, VCHD.org. Toole says this is much more efficient than handling calls by phone.
“(Handling appointments by phone) is an inefficient, frustrating way to handle mass-vaccination events, and it leaves most of the public and all of the staff unhappy,” he explains. “By reducing the number of calls we receive, we will be better able to focus on planning and operating the clinics.” He also says that those who do not have a computer will be able to sign up using an automated phone system in a few weeks.
For the events at the Fischer, Toole says a number of different people will be involved. He says two dozen Vermilion County Health Department employees, nursing students and volunteers will be a part of staffing the event, and OSF will be providing emergency services as well.
Both of the county’s hospital systems–Carle and OSF–have vaccinated staff members. He says they are interested in vaccinating the public, which will mostly likely start with seniors only. Toole also says pharmacies could offer the vaccine to the public.
