UPDATE 2/13/21 09:00: Tri-County health departments say they are reducing vaccination appointments as the state drastically reduces the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines over the next few weeks – but the governor’s office says that is not entirely the case.
Peoria County expects only 500 doses per week for the next two weeks from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and 1,000 during the week of Feb. 28-March 6. The province has consistently received about 2,000 a week since the vaccines. rolled out for the first time in December.
Tazewell County will receive 400 doses per week over the next two weeks and 800 from February 28 to March 6. Woodford County will see only 200 vaccines for the next two weeks, and 300 from February 28 to March 6.
“The allocation of vaccines from the Illinois Department of Public Health to local health departments has been reduced for the next two weeks. Reducing vaccine shipments reduces the number of appointments available to plan,” reads a joint statement from the Tri -County health departments.
Due to the reduction in the allocation, the health departments in the provinces said they would not expand the 1B vaccination group to include people with diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease until they have confidence in a more consistent offer.
Government JB Pritzker announced on Wednesday that it will extend the 1B admission to these groups from 25 February.
But on Friday night, the governor’s office pushed back the numbers released by local health departments.
“Provinces are getting the same or more doses as in previous weeks. The only difference is which doses are first doses and which doses are second doses,” a spokesman for the governor said. “In the coming weeks, the first wave of people who received shots will need their second doses. The grants will therefore have to ensure that it is covered. The total number of doses going to provinces has not yet been reduced.”
WCBU has also contacted IDPH for more information on the reasons for vaccine cuts.
“As the effects of vaccines continue, more doses for second doses should be used. Therefore, the number of first doses for provinces across the country should decrease,” IDPH responded in an email to questions from a WCBU reporter.
Earlier this week, Peoria City / County Health Department Manager Monica Hendrickson said the local health care system has the capacity to do up to 15,000 vaccinations a week. The biggest obstacle to speeding up the pace remains the limited vaccine supply, she said.
The number of appointments available to plan for the current 1A and 1B waves will be reduced, but the Tazewell County Department of Health said all confirmed appointments should still expect a vaccination.
As of Thursday, Peoria County had 7,360 vaccines in stock. This includes 3,510 at the health department, and another 3,850 at community partners, such as the hospitals and Heartland Health Services. Tazewell County had 1,490 vaccines in stock. Woodford had 1,240.
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, told reporters on Wednesday that the federal government would soon introduce a system to predict the allocation of vaccines three weeks in advance, instead of the one week that was the current standard.
The health departments are asking residents to continue wearing masks, taking social distances and washing their hands regularly.
This story will be updated.
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