CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Lake County Health Department expects to receive its shipment of just under 7,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Thursday; and tens of thousands of people have already registered for their chance to be vaccinated when it's their turn.
Frontline healthcare workers at six hospitals will be the first to get the vaccine, according to Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister.
He said more than 113,000 people have already signed up on the county's AllVax online portal to be notified eventually when it's their turn. Some areas, though, are signing up in greater numbers than others.
"We are requesting that people that live in the northern part of Lake County, that they really sign up. We have had great coverage in the southern part. We just want to make sure that northern Lake County, we get more people to sign up," he said.
Pfister said people's political views and race are a couple of factors that have come into play as reasons for people not registering.
"Certain areas there may be more vaccine hesitancy than others, but we're really trying to educate our public about the value of this vaccine," he said.
That's why he said, "We're asking everybody, politicians, community-based organizations to really assist their neighbors in knowing that this system is out there and then also that, how to get signed up."
Pfister said his department is trying to educate the public about the value of the vaccine and that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Those interested can sign up at allvax.lakecohealth.org, answer some basic questions including "your name, your date of birth, your zip code and then you'll also be asked what types of occupations that you have as well as what type of risk factors that you may have that may get you the vaccine sooner than others." You can also call 847-377-8130 to register by phone.
Pfister said the Lake County Health Department has been preparing for something like the pandemic for years. At some point, when there are enough doses of vaccines, he said high schools in the county will be able to administer the vaccine to their students and staffs and large companies will be able to give it to their employees.
"We already had memorandums of understandings with all the high schools. We've already had memorandums of understanding with larger companies to be closed pods. We're prepared for that. All we need is just the vaccines to come here," he said.
When Lake County receives its vaccine doses Thursday, Pfister said six hospitals in the county will be notified so they can pick up their allotments and get busy vaccinating their front line staffs. The fact the vaccine doses are a couple of days later than originally scheduled is not a big deal to Pfister.
"Another day is not going to impact us," especially when you consider the "incredible pace" it took scientists to develop the vaccines, he said.
