CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Kane County is dropping plans for a second mass COVID vaccination site in Carpentersville.
Kane County officials have decided not to locate a second mass vaccination site at the former Big Lots store, located at 200 S. Western Ave. in Carpentersville.
According to the Daily Herald, the decision was made late Tuesday, as county and state officials decided to change course on the announced plans to open two mass vaccination sites.
Officials determined it would be operationally and financially more efficient to operate a single mass vaccination site in Batavia, according to county board member Jarett Sanchez.
"It's really disappointing," Sanchez said.
Officials said the Batavia site will cost $80,000 less than the Carpentersville site and will be run by the Illinois National Guard. The site in a former Sam’s Club, located at 501 N. Randall Road, is supposed to open in the next month.
"The Batavia site is definitely better than nothing," Sanchez said. "It's located not too far from Elgin and Aurora, which both have large Black and Hispanic populations. But for our residents on the north end, it's a bit far."
Sanchez told the Daily Herald he will push the county to look into creating more pop-up vaccination events on the north end of the county to try to make up for the loss of the Carpentersville site.
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