Friday, April 23, 2021 Volume 2, Issue 4
(630) 682-7400 www.dupagehealth.org
More than 400,000 DuPage County Residents Have Been Vaccinated with at Least One COVID-19 Vaccine Dose
As of today, 292,744, or 31.5 percent, of DuPage County residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, 87.1 percent of DuPage County residents ages 65 years and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Based on data from Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), DuPage County currently has the highest percentage of all 102 counties with 45 percent of the total population vaccinated with at least one dose. In the past week, close to 64,000 vaccine doses were administered into the arms of DuPage County residents for a total of 715,200 doses administered to date.

Since COVID-19 vaccinations began in December, DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) and local vaccine provider partners have been working tirelessly to vaccinate eligible individuals as quickly as supply has allowed. According to the Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange (I-CARE) data, DuPage County vaccine providers have administered more than 540,720 COVID-19 vaccine doses to eligible individuals through Apr. 13. Of the over half a million doses administered, slightly over 50 percent were given to DuPage County residents; the remainder were given to out-of-county residents including many individuals who work in DuPage and support our communities.

“We are incredibly thankful to our wonderful vaccine provider partners who have been a tremendous asset in vaccinating so many eligible individuals as quickly and equitably as possible in our county," said Karen Ayala, Executive Director of DuPage County Health Department. "It remains critical that as vaccine availability increases throughout our county, residents 16 years of age and older continue to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to help protect themselves, their family, their friends, and their community.”


DuPage County Receives Its Largest Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
This week, DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) received its largest COVID-19 vaccine allocation to date, with 43,790 first vaccine doses. This tops the previous weekly record high of 23,875 first doses received by DuPage County in January. The notable increase in vaccine doses will allow DCHD to allocate vaccine to all its vaccine provider partners and help further expand access to COVID-19 vaccine for DuPage County residents.

“After weeks of advocating to receive more first dose vaccines, DuPage County is extremely grateful to our State partners to receive a significantly larger vaccine allocation this week. This allocation will allow DCHD to distribute vaccine to all of our provider partners and create additional vaccination appointments for residents to conveniently access,” said Karen Ayala, Executive Director of DuPage County Health Department. “With the recent increase in cases and hospitalization across our county, it is crucial that everyone who wants a vaccine, has the ability to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Until now, the average weekly vaccine supply to DCHD has been about 14,000 first doses per week and has not been enough to provide doses to all the providers in this network. DCHD and other local vaccine providers have created the capacity to administer more than 65,700 vaccine doses per week through a number of different sites. These providers have been working tirelessly since December to vaccinate eligible individuals as quickly and equitably as possible.

COVID-19 Community Transmission Remains Substantial in DuPage County
Despite the increase in vaccinated residents, COVID-19 community transmission levels remain substantial. The highest case activity continues to be observed in youth aged 5 to 19 years as well as adults in the 20 to 39-year-old and 40 to 59-year-old age groups. On Apr. 21, local hospitals reported 110 COVID-19 related hospitalizations in daily census reports including 25 patients in the intensive-care unit (ICU). Both hospitalizations and the number of patients reported in ICU care have increased significantly since March 15.

Additionally, DCHD is closely monitoring reports of COVID-19 variants in the county. These variants are classified as COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) as they spread more easily and quickly than other variants and likely cause more severe disease based on hospitalizations and case-fatality rates. Based on national and state-level genomic surveillance efforts as of Apr. 21, 80 cases of B.1.1.7, six cases of P.1, and four cases of B.1.427/B.1.429 variants have been identified in DuPage County. In Illinois, 1,141 cases of B.1.1.7, 328 cases of P.1, and 97 cases of B.1.427/429 variants have been reported as of Apr. 20.  

Everyone, including people who have been vaccinated, should continue to take everyday actions to protect themselves and others, like wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and washing hands often, especially while COVID-19 activity is high in DuPage County. In addition, to help interrupt community spread, persons with COVID-19 infection need to self-isolate (e.g., stay home except for medical care) and their close contacts need to self-quarantine unless they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have had COVID-19 infection within three months of exposure.
DuPage County COVID-19 Vaccine Champion Dr. Saima Azfar
“This is our shot DuPage. The sooner we get vaccinated when it’s our turn, the sooner we can get back to the people and places we love and cherish.” Dr. Saima Azfar from ICNA Relief encourages people to look at the facts and get vaccinated.

All DuPage County and Illinois residents ages 16 years and older are encouraged to register for vaccination appointments in DuPage County at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine, or call (630) 682-7400 if assistance is needed with registration.  Learn more at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.
DuPage County COVID-19 Vaccine Data
The DuPage County Health Department, with the support of DuPage County GIS, has added an interactive COVID-19 Vaccine Data feature onto the DuPage County COVID-19 Dashboard. The vaccine feature provides information about vaccine providers, weekly vaccine allocations, and allocations by provider type throughout DuPage County. To view the DuPage County COVID-19 Dashboard, visit www.dupagehealth.org/covid19data.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Every week, the DuPage County Health Department will be sharing the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the coronavirus pandemic to help educate and inform county residents. For a list of additional FAQ, visit COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions.


Can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 while I am currently sick with COVID-19?

No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html


What is the update on the Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine?
On April 23, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended resuming the use of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine to protect against COVID-19. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html for updates.
COVID-19 VACCINE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH RESOURCES
COVID-19 Vaccine in DuPage County (Flyer)
Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
(Flyer)
About the COVID-19 Vaccines (Flyer)
Our Best Shot Against COVID-19 (Video)
DuPage County Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic (Video)
COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center (Postcard)
DuPage County COVID-19
Vaccine Information Available on Website
The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) has a COVID-19 Vaccine webpage for the public to stay informed on the latest information regarding vaccine planning in DuPage County. As more information becomes available, DCHD will share updates on its website and social media channels.

To view the COVID-19 Vaccine page, visit www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.

Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Illinois Department of Public Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Data
COVID-19 vaccination data by county is now available through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) website. Data include the number of doses administered, the vaccination rate per population, and what percent of the population is fully vaccinated. It is important to note that vaccine distribution figures are reported in real-time, while vaccine administration figures are reported with as much as a 72-hour lag. 
COVID-19 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
DuPage County COVID-19 Testing Sites
The DuPage County Health Department offers a community-based drive-thru testing site to residents. Anyone can be tested, and no appointment, doctor referral, or insurance is required. Visitors are encouraged to pre-register at testdirectly.com. Please note: Pre-registration does not guarantee testing or a place in line for that day.

For more information about COVID-19 testing in DuPage County, visit www.dupagehealth.org/covid19testing.


1033 N. Villa Avenue, Villa Park, IL
Sunday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Testing Site Locations in DuPage County
The DuPage County Health Department reminds residents that there are various COVID-19 testing locations throughout DuPage County. For a list of testing locations near you including CVS and Physicians Immediate Care, visit the IDPH Testing webpage.

Additionally, Walgreens also offers COVID-19 testing.
Pillars Community Health
COVID-19 Testing in Willowbrook
Pillars Community Health offers drive-up testing for COVID-19 across the street from Burr Ridge Middle School in Burr Ridge.

Testing is restricted to people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have had a close contact with a confirmed exposure. Limited tests available; an appointment IS REQUIRED: Call
708-PILLARS (708-745-5277) and follow the prompts.

VNA Health Care COVID-19 Testing
VNA Health Care offers COVID-19 testing by appointment only to new and existing patients with or without symptoms. 

Community mobile testing clinics are also available in Bensenville and West Chicago through VNA Health Care.

VNA Mobile Clinic at St. Alexis Catholic Church
400 W Wood Ave, Bensenville, IL, 60106

VNA Mobile Clinic at St. Andrew's Church
155 N Prince Crossing Rd, West Chicago, IL, 60185

To schedule an appointment, call (630) 892-4355 or (847) 717-6455.

For more information or to view a list of additional VNA locations, visit www.vnahealth.com/covid-19-testing.
Illinois COVID-19 Hotline and Email Address
If you have questions about Coronavirus - Call the Illinois Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Hotline:

1 (800) 889-3931 or, send an email to: dph.sick@illinois.gov

Both are available anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Friday, April 23, 2021 Volume 2, Issue 4
(630) 682-7400 www.dupagehealth.org