PEORIA (HOI) - President Joe Biden aims to make all adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination by May 1, but most people in the Heart of Illinois are waiting for their turn.
Tri-County health departments said Thursday that 52,000 people have been vaccinated in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties during this first week of the expanded 1B grouping.
"I just know that out wait lists continue to grow. People are utilizing 211 and we really want you to take advantage of that. And, you know check our websites for appointments, check our pharmacies for appointments," said Monica Hendrickson, the Peoria County Health Department Administrator.
"I think what really helps us move into that 1C and even further is just going to be how much vaccine we get and how fast we can get our public vaccinated," Hendrickson said.
One of the main topics at Thursday's health department briefing was how to use the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, although its use locally is not currently on the horizon. However, the South Side Mission and Walgreens are partnering to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccines Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. All 400 appointment slots have been filled, according to the South Side Mission's website.
"Using it into groups of individuals that would be hard to get them to a second dose appointment. So, thinking of our transient population. I know some of our neighboring counties are thinking of this as a great product for a drive thru clinic, which we would all support. So, I really think it's going to be dependent on how much we get," said Hendrickson.
Tazewell County has an agreement with the state to provide Hopedale Medical Complex with about 200 vaccine shots per week. Tazewell County is also planning drive-through vaccination events next month.
Meantime, the Tri-County area added 350 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, with four additional COVID-related deaths.
Latest health department data show a 97% recovery rate, with only 1% isolating at home. Health leaders say only 5 ICU beds are in use each day with COVID patients in the Tri-County area.
"For the past 14 days, we continue to average 50 new cases in the Tri-Counties, and we're very excited to see that plateau and continue to stay at a relatively controllable value for our staff to handle in terms of disease investigation and contact tracing," said Hendrickson.
March 13 will mark one year since Tazewell County's first COVID-19 case, while March 16 will mark a year since Peoria County's first case.
Special amber lights will be seen from dusk to dawn on March 16 across the Murray Baker Bridge on Interstate 74 to commemorate the event.
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March 12, 2021 at 09:38AM
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COVID-19 cases leveling off in Heart of Illinois as people wait their turn for vaccine - HOI ABC
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