Southern Seven Health Department issued the following announcement on Dec. 19.
S7HD staff picked up the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to the region Wednesday afternoon and transported them to Union County Hospital. Frontline healthcare workers at their facility started receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday.
We're expecting weekly shipments of COVID-19 vaccines and will continue working to vaccinate frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities under Phase 1A of the CDC Vaccination Program schedule. As supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine increase, we will begin working through the next vaccination groups. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates!
Here is a copy of the press release below:
12/17/20 – Southern Seven Health Department Receives First Shipment of COVID-19 Vaccine
Southern Seven Health Department (S7HD) has received the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines designated to the seven county region. The shipment of 160 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine was received by S7HD staff on Wednesday and transported to a local healthcare provider.
Frontline healthcare workers at that facility are expected to receive their first COVID-19 vaccinations beginning today. Frontline healthcare workers are considered to be paid or unpaid employees who serve in healthcare settings and have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials.
“The arrival of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is an important step in the fight against this pandemic in the Southern Seven region,” said Teresa Wilburn, Director of Nursing for Southern Seven Health Department. “I’m proud to have been a small part of the process in the delivery to one of our hardest hit counties. Frontline workers will be some of the first people to receive the vaccine and I’m looking forward to the months ahead when it could be available for everyone in our communities.”
Based on current guidance from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), S7HD expects to receive a weekly shipment of vaccine. These vaccines will be distributed throughout the seven counties based on guidance from IDPH and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
Currently COVID-19 vaccinations are being provided to frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities under Phase 1A of the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Phase 1 is characterized by having access to a limited amount of COVID-19 vaccine.
“We’re beginning to get phone calls from people who are very interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine and they’re wondering when it will be their turn,” said Nathan Ryder, Outreach Coordinator for the Contact Tracing Team at Southern Seven Health Department. “We ask that people stay patient. Once COVID-19 vaccine supplies stabilize and become more readily available, we’ll have a better idea of when each group under the CDC’s Vaccination Program might be able to pull up their sleeves to get vaccinated.”
“Right now, it looks like the general public will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine in late spring or early summer,” Ryder said. Until there is a broader rollout of COVID-19 vaccines throughout the nation, it’s important for everyone to continue following those tried and true guidelines for slowing the spread of this disease: mask up, keep your social distance, and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
For questions regarding COVID-19, contact Southern Seven Health Department at 618-634-2297 or visit them on Facebook and online at www.southern7.org
Original source can be found here.
Source: Southern Seven Health Department
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