(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Cook County Health Officials say the easy part of vaccine distribution is over.
The number of appointments at the mass vaccination sites has dropped from several thousand per day to several hundred. So, the vaccine sites in Matteson, Forest Park, and Des Plaines are closing next week.
Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha on Thursday said vaccine distribution moves on to "winning hearts and minds." Distribution will now move on to persuading people who are either vaccine hesitant or resistant, he said.
Dr. Kieran Joshi of Cook County Health said the vaccination efforts will shift from big clinics to smaller community events:
"Our efforts going forward will include working with schools to share information to parents and to hold back to school clinics. We will be working again with community-based organizations or trusted messengers in the community.”
He added that it is important to vaccinate as many people as possible due to the presence of the more virulent Delta strain of COVID-19 that is present in Cook County.
"For those who are hesitating previously we urge you to take this opportunity to get vaccinated," Dr. Joshi said.