Phase 1B vaccinations to begin in Effingham County later this week

Don’t call … but the Effingham County Health Department is preparing to start administering COVID-19 vaccines later this week.

We say “Do not call” because that is not how you will make an appointment to be vaccinated.

Karen Feldkamp of the Department of Health said she got a head start on some Phase 1B vaccinations … first responders were vaccinated on Saturday. The teachers were vaccinated on Monday. Feldkamp said there was no school on Monday, which is why teachers were vaccinated that day.

Later this week, vaccines will be given to residents of Effingham County aged 75 and over. Next week, vaccinations will be given to people 65 and over. Feldkamp said the state’s original plan was for those 75 and over to get vaccinated first, but Governor Pritzker subsequently changed the schedule for those 65 and over. She said that as so many county residents fall into these demographics, the decision was to start at 75 and over and then open at 65 and over next week. The other factor was that the county doesn’t get as many shots every week.

Appointments will be made among those who wish to be vaccinated. Feldkamp said it was because they didn’t want people to randomly show up and wait and then not get vaccinated.

The Department of Health will put appointment information on their website and on their Facebook page. Again, please do not call the health department. In addition, we will have the vaccination information on our website and our Facebook page once the information is available.

Feldkamp said that once the process begins, the health department will hold immunization clinics every week as long as the vaccine is available. She said some weeks it will be just for those who get their first shot, some weeks it will be just for those who get their second shot. There is a 28 day waiting period between taking your first shot and your second shot. The Department of Health will administer the Moderna vaccine.

Feldkamp recalls that there will be no charge for the COVID vaccination, but you are invited to bring your insurance card to cover the administration costs. If you don’t have insurance, you won’t be turned down.

Feldkamp also recalls that the health department has no control over the amount of vaccine they receive.

Again, do not phone the health department to make an appointment as this is not how the appointments will be made and they are not ready with the appointment information online. We’ll let you know on the radio and online when it’s time to make an appointment.

Here is Greg’s interview with Karen Feldkamp of the Effingham County Health Department about the COVID-19 vaccinations, which are expected to begin later this week …