CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The DuPage County Health Department said more fire departments are expressing interest in administering COVID-19 vaccinations to homebound residents.
Currently, the Naperville Fire Department and the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District are putting COVID-19 shots in arms in people’s homes, as part of a pilot program by the DuPage County Health Department.
"About 20 people have been vaccinated so far. Another 10 are being vaccinated today and we look forward to expanding through the health department staff and the fire departments and other home health providers in the coming weeks," said Chris Hoff, Director of Community Health Resources.
Hoff said five to 10 more fire departments have expressed interest in administering vaccines. He expects more departments to be trained and ready to give COVID shots in the next few weeks. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been used, primarily, so paramedics do not have to make a return trip to give second doses of vaccines.
"It’s a fine logistical dance to make sure you’ve got the right vaccine, at the right temperature, in the right place so the fire departments and health department work really closely to figure out how to do that," he said.
He said about 1,500 people had originally signed up for home COVID shots, but it turned out that about half of them had already received vaccines elsewhere.
"We call down the list, so if anyone is registered already indicating they need that homebound vaccine, that’s who we’re contacting first," Hoff said.
Hoff said anyone who needs to get a COVID vaccine in their home can sign up at DuPageHealth.org.
He said more than 50 percent of people eligible have been fully vaccinated in DuPage County.
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