Friday, May 28, 2021 ● Volume 2, Issue 9
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More than 56 Percent of Eligible DuPage County Residents Are Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19 |
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As of May 27, more than 48 percent, or 446,766, of all DuPage County residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Of the DuPage County residents 12 years and older who are currently eligible to be vaccinated, 64 percent have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 56 percent have been fully vaccinated. Additionally, 86 percent of DuPage County residents ages 65 years and older are fully vaccinated and 93 percent have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. In the past week, more than 39,000 vaccine doses were administered into the arms of DuPage County residents for a total of 952,030 doses administered to date.
DCHD reminds residents that although COVID-19 disease activity is decreasing, the risk of exposure is still present. All residents who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or who are immunocompromised should continue practicing preventive measures to stay safe, including wearing a well-fitted mask consistently and correctly, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, washing hands frequently, and getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 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. Updated recommendations on masking based on vaccination status and setting are available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.
DCHD continues to work towards achieving the goal of vaccinating 80 percent of eligible DuPage County residents by July 1. To help do so, DCHD is partnering with municipalities, businesses, and community-based organizations to bring smaller COVID-19 vaccine clinics closer to individuals who have not yet been vaccinated. To request an on-site mobile vaccination clinic, please complete this form or learn more at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccinemobile.
DuPage County residents who are homebound or who cannot safely leave their residence to visit a vaccination clinic, are eligible to be vaccinated through our homebound vaccination program and should register at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccineregistration, or call (630) 682-7400 for assistance. When registering, the form will provide an opportunity to indicate homebound services are needed.
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COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Clinics |
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DuPage County COVID-19 Vaccine Champion
Gilda Ross, Glenbard Parent Series
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This is our shot DuPage! Our COVID-19 Vaccine Champion Gilda Ross from Glenbard Parent Series encourages people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn more at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.
DCHD’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic is open to everyone 12 years and older. Anyone under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Parents and legal guardians can register their eligible children at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccineregistration
The COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic will be CLOSED May 29-31 to Observe Memorial Day
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DuPage County COVID-19 Vaccine Data |
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The DuPage County Health Department, with the support of DuPage County GIS, provides 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.
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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.
How does the new CDC mask guidance affect my children and their summer activities?
Currently, no COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children under 12 years old. Children age 12 to 15 can now receive the Pfizer vaccine. Once children age 12 to 15 are fully vaccinated — two weeks after their second Pfizer dose — they can resume summer activities without wearing a mask unless required by local, state or business rules. Children age 2 and older who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated should wear masks in public settings, particularly where social distancing is not possible, and when around people who don’t live in their household.
Choosing summer activities with lower risk, in addition to wearing masks, can reduce unvaccinated children’s risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. These activities include exploring the outdoors, taking a road trip with members of your household, or visiting vaccinated friends or family from another household. No activity is totally risk free: our kids ride bikes, they go skateboarding, etc. Parents should also monitor infections rates in your community and will need to make choices that feel best for their family. Being in crowds and poorly ventilated spaces puts unvaccinated people, including children, at higher risk for COVID-19.
Source: https://publichealthcollaborative.org
Why does DuPage County Health Department recommend COVID-19 vaccinations of children 12 years of age and older?
Children are not immune from COVID-19, and tragically, to date in the U.S., there have been 300 COVID-19-related deaths¹ in persons under 18 years old. In DuPage County, teens and young adults represent the majority of new COVID-19 cases. Although their risk of severe illness may not be as great as older adults, severe health outcomes are now largely preventable by vaccination. In addition, unvaccinated teens and young adults can become infected and transmit the virus to others; the risk of infection and spread is greatly reduced with vaccination. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)², the known and potential benefits of this vaccine in individuals 12 years of age and older outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting DCHD’s strong recommendation for the vaccine’s use in this population.
The Health Department encourages parents to review the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to talk with their child’s healthcare provider if they have any questions. Vaccinating as many of our eligible residents as soon as possible will help us stop the spread of this virus and make our communities safer for everyone.
¹ https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#AgeAndSex
² https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use
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COVID-19 VACCINE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH RESOURCES |
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COVID-19 Vaccine in DuPage County (Flyer)
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Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
(Flyer)
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About the COVID-19 Vaccines (Flyer)
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DuPage County Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic (Video)
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COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center (Postcard)
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DuPage County COVID-19
Vaccine Information Available on Website
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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.
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Illinois Department of Public Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Data
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COVID-19 vaccination data by county is available through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) website. Data includes 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.
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COVID-19 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES |
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DuPage County COVID-19 Testing Sites |
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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.
1033 N. Villa Avenue, Villa Park, IL
Sunday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The COVID-19 Testing Site will be CLOSED May 30-31 to Observe Memorial Day.
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Testing Site Locations in DuPage County |
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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.
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Illinois COVID-19 Hotline and Email Address |
If you have questions about Coronavirus - Call the Illinois Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Hotline:
Both are available anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Friday, May 28, 2021 ● Volume 2, Issue 9
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