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

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

We say “Don’t call” because that’s not how you request an appointment to get vaccinated.

Karen Feldkamp of the Department of Health said they have managed to get ahead of some Phase 1B vaccines … first responders received their vaccines on Saturday. Teachers were vaccinated Monday. Feldkamp said there was no school on Monday, which is why teachers were vaccinated that day.

Vaccines will be given to Effingham County residents aged 75 and over later this week. Those over 65 will be vaccinated next week. Feldkamp said the state’s initial plan was for people 75 or older to be vaccinated first, but later Governor Pritzker changed the schedule for those over 65. He said that because so many people in the county fall into this demographic, the decision was to start at age 75 and older and open it to age 65 or older next week. The other factor was that the county doesn’t get as many vaccines a week.

Appointments will be made to those who want to get vaccinated. Feldkamp said this is because they don’t want people to show up and wait at random and then not get vaccinated.

The Department of Health will post appointment information on its website and Facebook page. Again, don’t call the Department of Health. In addition, we will have the vaccination information on our website and Facebook page once the information is available.

Feldkamp said that once the process begins, the Department of Health will conduct weekly vaccination clinics whenever available. He said that some weeks, it will be only for those who get their first shot, some weeks it will be only for those who get their second shot. There is a waiting period of 28 days between getting the first shot and the second shot. The Department of Health will administer the Modern Vaccine.

Feldkamp reminds you that there will be no charges for the COVID vaccine, but you are asked to bring your insurance card to cover the administration fee. If you don’t have insurance, they won’t take you away.

Feldkamp also recalls that the Department of Health has no control over the amount of vaccine they receive.

Again, don’t call the Department of Health to make an appointment, as this is not how appointments will be made and they are not prepared with the appointment information online. We will notify you on the radio and online when it is time to make an appointment.

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