From the McHenry County Health Department:

Over 32,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered to McHenry County seniors a year after first case announced

WOODSTOCK — The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is announcing that 45% of the 71,062 administered vaccine doses have gone to McHenry County’s senior population since the State of Illinois opened vaccinations to the Phase 1b priority group on Jan. 25.

Vaccine administered to the 65 and older population has occurred through local hospital systems, retail pharmacies and MCDH-run clinics.

MCDH expects to have vaccinated 80% of the 65 and older population by the end of March.

“Vaccinating McHenry County is a Herculean effort, and we are proud to work with our local partners who have risen to the challenge in vaccinating a high-risk population that has spent the past year doing their best to avoid coming into contact with the virus,” said MCDH Public Health Administrator Melissa Adamson.

MCDH reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 10, 2020. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 virus a pandemic a year ago today.

“Much has changed in a year since our first reported case,” Adamson said.

“We’ve learned what works to reduce the spread of virus and we now have a vaccine. The end to this pandemic seems to get closer with each administered vaccine, but we cannot lose sight of the danger of this virus by looking too far ahead.” 

As of March 10, 2021, MCDH has reported 24,754 confirmed and probable cases since announcing its first COVID-19 case a year ago.

Of McHenry County’s 308,570 residents, 21,628 have been fully vaccinated.

To maintain the significant strides McHenry County has made in its 7-day rolling average positivity rate which is currently at 5.2 %, MCDH is encouraging everyone to continue to follow the 3 W’s, monitor for symptoms and get tested.

“Vaccination efforts are strong in McHenry County, but it’s important to remember that the virus is still circulating in our community.

“We need to remember to keep wearing our mask whenever we travel out of the house and that the risk of getting COVID-19 increases whenever we gather.

“We are still continuing our contact tracing efforts, so please answer the call if one of our contact tracers reach out to you and follow their advice on quarantine if you’ve been in contact with a known case or isolating yourself if you test positive,” Adamson said.  

More information about enrolling for a COVID-19 vaccine is available at https://bit.ly/MCDHCovidVaccine.