When the Vermilion County Health Departments starts its larger vaccination clinics next month at the Fischer Theatre, it should allow many more people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine each Thursday when the clinics are held.
Health Department Administrator Doug Toole was a guest on WDAN’s Newsmakers on Friday morning. He says the extra seating will allow for up to 600 people to be vaccinated per day. He says it is not the vaccination itself that causes the wait time, but the observation period after receiving the vaccine.
“Vaccinating people is very quick,” he says. “It is the observation period that takes a while, so the more seating we have, the easier it’s going to be for us to get more people in and have an observation routine going as their minutes are up.”
Toole said on Friday evening that the state’s computer system is not ready to use. He says he still wants to be able to use it in order to reduce the time scheduling appointments takes, but he says it will likely not be ready in time. Vaccine clinics for the next two weeks are booked up.
The health department is hosting a vaccination clinic this Thursday for educators. There will also be clinics on February 2nd, 3rd and 4th where first doses will be given to educators and second doses for those who need them.
Emergency Planning and Response Coordinator Melissa Rome says the process of getting vaccines to the public is long and difficult, due to situations changing and the department’s small staff size.
“It is becoming a long, painstaking process, and I know the public is frustrated, as are we,” she says.
Vaccination clinics will begin on February 11th at the Fischer Theatre and will be held on Thursdays after that. Toole says OSF’s EMS team is only available once a week, which is why the large clinics will only be held once a week. He says there is a long waiting list filled with senior citizens who wish to be vaccinated.
