Coronavirus (COVID-19) Newsletter — April 9, 2021

April 9, 2021  |  View as a webpage  |  Translate

COVID-19 Update

Dear Lake County Resident, 

The COVID-19 vaccine is our best tool to beat the pandemic and allow daily life to return to normal, and we are currently in the “race to vaccinate” as cases begin to climb again in the United States. This coming Monday, April 12, eligibility in Illinois expands to all residents age 16 and older. Remember, however, that eligibility does not mean availability. It will take time for everyone to have an appointment available to them.

We expect the vaccine supply will continue to increase, and our vaccination sites and partners are ready to administer doses as quickly as they are received.  Remember, all three vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – are extremely safe and effective, and the best vaccine is the first one available to you.

Also starting April 12, the Lake County Fairgrounds site will transition to a walk-through model (still by appointment through AllVax) and will no longer offer drive-through vaccinations. This change, made possible by the warmer weather, allows us to increase our daily capacity at the site, meaning more appointments will be available each week for our residents. Upon arrival to your appointment, you will park your car in the Expo Hall parking lot and wait until your appointment time before entering the building. You will be required to wear a mask in the building and maintain social distance from others. This site offers Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations, based on what is currently available for your appointment. We are not able to provide choice of vaccine brand for your first dose.

Our Regional vaccination site at 102 W. Water Street, Waukegan continues to offer both drive-through and walk-through appointments with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a great option for individuals who are interested in completing their vaccination in a single dose.

Let us know if you have questions and have a great weekend!

VaxFacts
  • As of April 9, over 343,300 vaccine doses have been administered to Lake County residents and 127,729 residents (18.23% of the population) have been fully vaccinated. Over 73% of Lake County seniors age 65 and older and 30% of those age 16-64 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The county is averaging 6,537 doses administered per day on a 7-day rolling average, a 26.8% increase from last week.
  • Remember that after you receive the first dose of a two-dose vaccine, you are guaranteed your second dose and must schedule an appointment. AllVax will notify you when it’s time to schedule, about 5-7 days before the second dose is due. Watch your email.
  • Vaccinations of homebound seniors began on Wednesday, April 7. If you or someone you know is unable to leave home due to their health condition or disability, please contact our AllVax support team to be added to our list. Our partner providers will then reach out to you to schedule an appointment in your home. You can reach out team at (847) 377-8130 or AllVax@lakecountyil.gov.
  • Thank you to everyone who participated in Lake County Seniors Week, April 5-11, to help us reach every senior who has not yet been vaccinated! Visit our social media this weekend to hear from many residents who shared their ‘why’ – the reasons why getting vaccinated is so important to them. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Increasing Cases

prevalence map

Nationwide there have been recent increases in COVID-19 cases. Rates are up 5% nationwide and many zip codes in Lake County have seen increases in cases over the last 14 days. Experts are strongly urging all to continue following mitigation measures. This includes:

  • Wearing a mask
  • Washing your hands
  • Watching your distance
  • Getting a COVID-19 vaccine

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will help to slow the spread. If the vaccine you receive is a two dose vaccine, it is important to get both doses.  Two dose vaccines require both doses in order to be effective.

To look at more data, check out the Lake County COVID-19 Data Hub.

All Options are Safe and Effective

COVID-19 Vaccine Chart

Currently, there are three vaccinations authorized (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson) and recommended for use in the United States against COVID-19. The best vaccine to get is the first one available to you. With limited vaccine supply, many vaccination sites cannot guarantee a certain brand of vaccine. All three authorized vaccines are extremely safe, effective, and will reduce the risk of severe illness. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna require two doses while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine only requires one dose.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA technology. MRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein, or even just a piece of a protein, that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. More information about mRNA technology can be found on the CDC's Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines page.

The Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine that triggers our immune system to begin producing antibodies and activating other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection. Watch this video provided by Johnson and Johnson showcasing how their vaccine works. The CDC also provides additional information about Understanding Viral Vector COVID-19 Vaccines.

None of the authorized vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. They also do not alter a person DNA or contain microchips.

More information about the three vaccines can be found on CDC's Different COVID-19 Vaccines page.

Upcoming Volunteer Appreciation Week

During the week of April 26 – May 2, we will be celebrating our volunteers and staff who have been working so hard to support our vaccination efforts. Now it is our turn to show our appreciation. Over the next few weeks, we encourage our Lake County community to send in thank-you notes via email, covid19@lakecountyil.gov, or through our social media channels, Facebook and Instagram. Handwritten notes can be mailed to:

Rebecca Kumar
Lake County Emergency Management Agency
1303 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Libertyville, IL, 60048

We appreciate your involvement expressing your appreciation and look forward to featuring and presenting all the kind words to our volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine and Children

Pfizer-BioNTech recently announced the results from their COVID-19 vaccine study in adolescents age 12-15. The results demonstrated 100% efficacy and a strong antibody response. The vaccine was also well tolerated. Pfizer-BioNTech plan to request an amendment to their current Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) as soon as possible to expand the vaccine to children age 12-15 years old. They hope that the kids in this age bracket can be vaccinated before the start of next school year. Additionally, Pfizer and BioNTech announced they started clinically trial testing the COVID-19 vaccine on 6-month to 11-year-old children.

Updated Guidance on Domestic Travel

Fully vaccinated guidance

The CDC has issued new guidance on domestic travel for people who are fully vaccinated. It is still recommended to delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated individuals are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people:

  • Do not need to get tested before or after travel unless the destination requires it
  • Do not need to self-quarantine after travel

During travel it is important that fully vaccinated people continue to follow precautions including:

  • Wearing a mask when in public during travel
  • Washing hands regularly
  • Watching your distance when around others

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or 2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson). Fully vaccinated people can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.

It is still encouraged to continue to avoid medium and large in-person gatherings. Fully vaccinated people may also visit with unvaccinated people from a single household, indoors, if they are at a low risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Masks and social distancing are not required in that situation.

For full guidance details, visit the CDC’s page Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.

Mayors Day

mayors day

On April 2, Mayors from across Lake County participated in Mayors Day at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Municipal leaders spent the day volunteering at the mass vaccination site and talking to their communities about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine. You can check out Mayors Day messages from Lake County Mayors on our Instagram page. Just look for the pinned Mayors Day Story.

COVID-19 Testing

Mobile testing April 9

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 now open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 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 on these dates:

Thursday, April 15, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mundelein Metra Station
205 N Archer Ave., Mundelein

Friday, April 16, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Highland Park Metra Station
1700 St. John’s Ave., Highland Park

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.

 

Lake County COVID-19 Cases

As of April 9, 2021, 57,648 Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including 954 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 

3 Ws Graphic - Lake County Health Department - English

Who to Contact if You Have Questions

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

COVID-19 Resources

Lake County AllVax Portal Resources

Visit our AllVax Frequently Asked Questions page to find answers and information about the COVID-19 vaccine in Lake County. Encourage members of the community to register in AllVax utilizing resources from the AllVax Portal Toolkit, including social media messages, guides, print materials, and more. 

Community Guidance and Resources

Protect yourself and your community. Our Community Guidance and Resources page has information to help residents stay safe and informed. Specific group information can be found for:

  • Businesses and employers
  • Communities and faith-based organizations
  • First responders and law enforcement
  • Healthcare providers and hospitals
  • Schools and childcare programs
  • Travelers


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 communication resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.

Get Involved

Join the Medical Reserve Corps

The Lake County Health Department is in need of volunteers with a valid medical license to fill roles as vaccinators, vaccine mixers, and wellness check observers at our mass vaccination sites. Visit our Lake County Medical Reserve Corps page to learn more.

Become a Community Health Ambassador

Community Health Ambassadors play a key role in helping our community members get vaccinated by sharing resources, answering FAQs, and encouraging community members to register on AllVax. Visit the Community Health Ambassador page for more information and to register.

Additional Ways to Help

Visit Lake County Health Departments How You Can Help page to find additional opportunities to donate or volunteer.

Useful Links

Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.