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COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Champaign County: CUPHD Starts With Residents Ages 75+

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Champaign County Residents To Access COVID-19 Vaccine Through January Clinics: Registration Now Open for Ages 75+


Following an initial rollout to healthcare workers, Champaign County residents ages 75 years and older will get access to their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through clinics next week.

 

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) along with multiple community partners are preparing two community COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Champaign County residents 75 years of age or older during the week of January 12.

The group will hold vaccination clinics January 12-14, 2021 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, by appointment only. Appointments are available at either community location regardless of where a person receives medical care.

[UPDATED 1/9/21 from CUPHD: “Due to the overwhelming response, all appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations for Champaign County residents age 75 and older for January 12-14 are full. We will notify the public of the next clinic as vaccine becomes available through our website and social media pages.”]

The effort has been coordinated across the community with in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, Promise Healthcare, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“I can assure you in Champaign County as fast as we get it, we’re getting it out into people,” said CUPHD director Julie Pryde.

One clinic will take place at the former Dress Barn store in the Kohl’s Plaza located at 1901 N. Market Street; the other clinic will be at the I-Hotel and Conference Center.

Covid vaccine card and rollout CUPHD

If it was up to CUPHD director Julie Pryde, everyone would have access to the vaccine right now. The distribution of the vaccine, which is being managed by the federal government, means that that isn’t possible just yet.

CUPHD will have between 2,500-3,000 doses to distribute next week, officials said. Individuals will not be able to choose which vaccine they receive (Moderna or Pfizer).

“In our county and everywhere, anybody who is doing vaccines, we would give every single person a vaccine if we had enough we would do everyone immediately. As it stands we do not have enough vaccine so we are starting with 75 and older as they are at much higher risk,” Pryde said during a news conference on Friday.

“As soon as we get more vaccine, we will continue to have clinics and we will continue to push the vaccine out. Hang on and wait until we get more vaccine.”

CUPHD also said that access to its clinics, and to future clinics, will be limited to Champaign County residents only. Those who live in other counties will have to contact their local health departments to learn about options and the timeline for the vaccine in their community.

Pryde emphasized that the Champaign County network of healthcare providers and other partners, including the University of Illinois Fire Institute and local paramedics,  has helped the county’s quick response and ability to distribute.

“We have a lot of vaccinators, we’ve done a lot of practice, we’ve done a lot of drills, we’ve done all kinds of stuff. We’re ready for it in our community,” she said. “The limiting factor is the amount of vaccine that we’re getting.”

More clinics will be scheduled as vaccine becomes available, and will be given in the order of priority as determined by the Illinois Department of Health and the CDC.

“We do think as the month progresses we will see more and more larger shipments as we go,” Pryde said. “It’s a logistics issue at the federal level, and we hope to see that resolved real soon.”

Original shipment Carle Covid-19 vaccine
The first vaccine shipment to Champaign County. Carle photo

TO ACCESS THE CLINICS:

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is asking the public to please share the information broadly about the vaccine clinics. Please pass the word onto friends, neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones. Flyers are also available in French and Spanish.

To register for a vaccination at the former Dress Barn store in the Kohl’s Plaza located at 1901 N. Market Street, Champaign, please use one of the following methods:

  • The fastest way to register is online through MyCarle.
  • Log in or sign up for MyCarle at MyCarle.com.
  • Scheduling is also available by calling (217) 902-6100 but you may experience a longer wait time.
  • If you do not feel well the day of your appointment, please call to reschedule.

To register for a vaccination at the iHotel and Conference Center located at 1900 S. First Street, Champaign, please use one of the following methods:

The vaccination is free but providers may charge an administrative fee which is determined by an individual’s insurance coverage. If you have questions about your specific coverage, please call the number on the back of your insurance card. The two clinics provide an easy and accessible entrance and protection from the elements while accommodating the necessary social distancing.

Patients will need to wear a face covering and plan to allow at least 15 minutes for observation after the vaccination. Please limit the number of individuals in your party that are not receiving the vaccine and wear clothing to allow easy access to the upper portion of the arm for the injection.

ABOUT THE VACCINE (information via CUPHD)

Pfizer and Moderna are both a two-dose series that are 90-95 percent effective after both vaccinations with the second dose either 21 or 28 days later as directed by the manufacturer.

Individuals will receive information on how to sign up for text reminders for their second dose as well as receive a vaccination record card with their return date for the second dose.

The vaccine does not contain a live virus and you cannot get COVID from the vaccine. Some people may develop side effects from their body building immunity which includes soreness at the injection site, fever, headache or body aches. Symptoms should resolve in 24-48 hours.

The body takes several weeks to build immunity so people could be infected just before receiving the vaccine or shortly after so continuing proven infection prevention measures is important. Continue to wear a mask, socially distance, wash hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick.

“It is important for people to understand pharmaceutical companies invested significant resources into quickly developing a vaccine for COVID-19 because of the urgent need for the vaccine worldwide. It does not mean they bypassed safety protocols or any phase of testing,” said Awais Vaid, Deputy Administrator and Epidemiologist, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccination. Information can be found at: http://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq.

To track the phases and local vaccinations, visit https://www.c-uphd.org/covid-vaccinations.html.