A new mass vaccination site that will open in Des Plaines this weekend, becoming the first large-scale center to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Illinois, began making appointments Thursday afternoon.
The Cook County Department of Health will open its fourth large-scale vaccination site at 1155 E. Oakton Street in Des Plaines on Friday or Saturday, pending the arrival of the vaccine, according to a statement.
Residents could begin arranging mandatory appointments at the new location Thursday at 1 p.m. Appointments can be made 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling (833) 308-1988.
To see how you can sign up for a COVID vaccine appointment in Illinois, click here.
Cook County officials said they expect to provide about 3,500 doses a day once the vaccination site is “fully optimized” and the vaccine is available. Officials noted that the Des Planes site will be the first large-scale facility across the state to be administered by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“This is a critical time in our fight against COVID-19 and providing the three FDA-approved vaccines ensures that our residents have all the vaccine options currently available,” said Cook County Board President , Toni Preckwinkle. “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in protecting people from serious illness and death. The fact that it is a one-dose vaccine is exciting because it allows people to protect themselves in a only visit ”.
More than 18,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are expected to arrive in Cook County on Thursday, according to Wedneday’s health department.
Johnson & Johnson vaccine shipments began Monday and Chicago and Illinois expected to receive an estimated dose count of more than 100,000 by the end of the week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said doses are expected statewide, with approximately 22,000 planned for Chicago and another 83,000 for the rest of the region.
More than 90% of the newly authorized vaccine will go to mass vaccination sites across the state, with the rest of the doses sent to other providers, officials said. IDPH noted that total doses do not include those going to Chicago, which will receive its own allocation.
In addition to Des Plaines appointments, more than 100,000 appointments for seniors also opened Thursday morning for the upcoming United Center, with plans to begin vaccinations next week.
Illinois announced the launch of the Des Plaines site Wednesday, along with another location that will open in Quincy.
“With our new operations in Des Plaines and Quincy, Illinois now operates 18 state-supported mass vaccination sites, in addition to the network of more than 800 vaccination sites statewide, all formed on a single target. : Vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible, “Governor JB Pritzker said in a statement.” One in six Illinois residents has already received their first dose of vaccine and, as the government federal increases Illinois deliveries to more than 100,000 a day later this month, IDPH and our 97 local health departments are ready to meet the moment. In the meantime, I encourage all Illinois residents to wear masks and be vigilant as we move to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. ”