CHAMPAIGN: They are now registering for the next round of vaccines against COVID-19 in Champaign County next week.
The next vaccination clinics will be held in four days at two Champaign locations, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 19-22, with vaccines by appointment only.
Residents eligible for vaccination next week are county residents age 75 and older who were not vaccinated last week, in addition to residents age 65 to 74 with underlying health conditions that leave them at higher risk of suffer severe cases of COVID-19, according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.
Underlying health conditions include cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, obesity, sickle cell disease, diabetes, and having a compromised immune system due to an organ transplant. Smokers in this age group can also be vaccinated starting next week.
No written documentation from patients’ primary care physicians will be required.
The vaccination site that Carle Health operates in Kohl’s Plaza is full during the weeks of January 18-25. Those who could be vaccinated next week and who have not yet registered were asked to sign up for community clinic appointments. operated at the I Hotel and Conference Center in 1900 S. First St., C.
To sign up for a vaccination appointment, go online to bit.ly/CU vaccinesignup. Appointments can also be made by calling 217-239-7877.
People who are vaccinated should take their face off and plan a minimum stay of 15 minutes after vaccination, for observation.
The federal government covers the costs of the vaccine and most insurance plans cover the costs of delivering the vaccine, according to the health district.
As of Friday, the health district vaccination board shows that 9,763 people in Champaign County were given the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 1,837 were already given the second dose needed.
The second dose is given three or four weeks after the first, depending on the type of vaccine.