Dear Lake County Residents,
As we close out 2020, we want to extend our gratitude to all of you. We are proud to be serving such a strong community that has overcome so many obstacles this year. As we look to the new year, we ask that you remain vigilant in your efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Remember, the safest way to celebrate the new year is with only those who live in your home. For ideas on how to keep yourself and your friends, family, and community healthy and safe, check out the CDC’s considerations for safe and healthy new year celebrations.
If you do choose to gather in-person with a small group, please continue to follow the 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance. If you are having any COVID-19 symptoms or you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please stay home.
We hope that you and your family enjoy a healthy and safe celebration!
AllVax Update
In just three weeks, more than 150,000 people have registered on the Lake County AllVax Portal! Everyone who lives or works in Lake County, Illinois is encouraged to sign up so they can be notified when the vaccine is available to them.
NEW! Healthcare workers can now select their healthcare organization affiliation in AllVax. Those who are already registered in the system will receive an email asking them to login and update their information.
Register now
Vaccinations Happening in Lake County
Currently, vaccine supply is limited. Following guidelines from the CDC, only people who are eligible in Phase 1a, healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents, can receive their vaccine. This phase is expected to last through most of January, and possibly longer.
Visit our new COVID-19 Vaccine webpage for more details.
The Lake County Health Department is providing vaccines as they become available to healthcare workers who are not affiliated with a hospital system. This week we provided vaccines to 663 healthcare, public health, and EMS providers at drive-through vaccination clinics.
 Vaccinations at long-term care facilities in Lake County began on December 28, 2020. These are vaccinations are being done by Walgreens and CVS through a federal program.
The Lake County Health Department has received more than 10,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and received its first shipment of 1,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine this week. Additional doses of Moderna vaccine were shipped directly to hospitals. The vaccines are being distributed and administered as quickly and efficiently as possible while following Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) Mass Vaccination Plan.
As of December 29, Illinois has administered over 130,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Over 3 million doses have been given in the United States, and 6 million doses worldwide.
Question: How do I confirm that I am registered on the AllVax Portal?
Answer: To confirm that you are registered on the AllVax Portal, log in to your account, then scroll down to "My Household." You will be able to view, edit, or add registrants.
Question: What is the difference between the Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines?
Answer: Here is a simple break down of how the two vaccines compare:
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Name
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Pfizer-BioNTech
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Moderna
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Type
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mRNA
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mRNA
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Dose
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2 doses/ 21 days apart
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2 doses/ 28 days apart
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Age availability
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16 and older
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18 and older
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Effectiveness
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95%
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94.1%
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Storage
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- 94 F°
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-13°F to 5° F
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For more information about each vaccine, check out Pfizer and Moderna’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) fact sheets.
There have been many myths surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Remember that it is important to go to trusted sources of public health information to check on things you may hear from friends or family, on the TV, or that you read on social media. For further information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, visit the CDC’s Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines page.
Question: What is an mRNA Vaccine?
Answer: Using messenger RNA (mRNA) in a vaccine is a way to trigger the body’s immune response to help build immunity against COVID-19. It simply lays out the instructions for your body to fight off the COVID-19 infection if you were to get it. This type of vaccine does not contain the virus that causes COVID-19 and cannot give someone COVID-19. For more in-depth information, please visit the CDC’s page about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Question: When can I get my COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: We are currently in Phase 1a - Healthcare Workers and Long-Term Care Facility Residents, and vaccine supply is limited. Following guidelines from the CDC, only people who are eligible in Phase 1a can get their vaccine at this time. For more information, visit the Health Department’s COVID-19 Vaccine page.
On December 22, the CDC updated its recommendations for the next groups to be vaccinated in Phase 1b and 1c.
Those in Phase 1b will include:
- Seniors age 75 and older.
- Frontline essential workers (first responders, teachers and support staff, public transit employees, grocery store staff, and daycare workers).
- People working in food and agriculture, manufacturing, corrections, and the US Postal Service.
Those in Phase 1c will include:
- Older adults age 65–74.
- Persons aged 16–64 with medical conditions known to increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Lake County expects to move on to the next phase once approximately 85% of a phase has been completed. We are currently still vaccinating Phase 1a which includes healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents.
 At Lake County's next Virtual Town Hall on January 13, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart will host a discussion with Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister, Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Sana Ahmed, and others about the County's vaccination efforts and answer related questions from the community.
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Venue: Virtual meeting hosted through Zoom. Register Now.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has it, getting tested can help you know what steps to take to keep your loved ones safe. Remember to focus on prevention first! Take steps to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. Due to the rapid spread of the virus over the past several weeks, demand for testing continues to be high. This can lead to increased wait times at testing sites and longer wait times for results.
Where can I get tested?
Contact your doctor to ask about testing availability, or check the Lake County Testing Site Locator for options.
State-run Community-Based Testing Sites located in Waukegan (102 W. Water St.), Arlington Heights (2000 W Euclid Ave.), and Rockford (1601 Parkview Ave.) are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Testing at these sites is free. These sites have drive-through testing, as well as walk-up testing for those who do not have a vehicle or need to use public transportation. Please note, you are not permitted to exit your car to use the walk-up line once you arrive. For more information, visit the IDPH website.
 A mobile testing unit run by the IDPH will be in Lake County next week:
Monday, January 4, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mundelein High School
1350 Hawley Street, Mundelein
Friday, January 8, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Williams Park
400 Williams Street, Antioch
Saturday, January 9, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Round Lake High School
800 High School Drive, Round Lake
Testing is free and open to all regardless of symptoms. A phone number and name are required in order to receive testing results. Photo identification and proof of insurance are helpful, but not required. High demand for testing may result in long wait times. Testing locations may close early due to inclement weather or if daily testing supplies are exhausted. Additional COVID-19 testing locations and information can be found at the IDPH website.
Read the press release on mobile testing.
How do I get my test results?
If you were tested by your own healthcare provider, please contact them directly and follow their instructions for getting your test results. If you were tested at a State-run Community-Based Testing Site or mobile testing site, you will receive a phone call with your results.
If you were recently tested at a mobile COVID-19 testing site and you have not been contacted within 7 days, please call 888-297-7208 or visit https://idph-mychart.pchosted.com/idph/Authentication/Login
Lake County COVID-19 Cases
As of December 31, 2020, 45,715 Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including 762 deaths.
Our Coronavirus Data Hub provides data and resources for our county, including cases and deaths, tests performed, demographic data, and an interactive map and charts.
View the Lake County, IL Coronavirus Data Hub
Please note, the Data Hub will not be updated on January 1 as our staff observe the New Year's holiday.
Do you have questions? The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
For additional information from the IDPH, visit: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Community Guidance and Resources
Protect yourself and your community. Our Information for Specific Groups page is now Community Guidance and Resources. This page is more user-friendly and has information to help residents stay safe and informed.
Communication Resources
We need your help to keep our communities healthy and safe. The Lake County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer free resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.
View communication resources
Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.
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