Ferrell Hospital, Army National Guard offers vaccination clinics

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Three community vaccine clinics are being planned by Ferrell Hospital and the Army National Guard.

The vaccine clinic locations and dates include:

Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9, College Heights Baptist Church at 2321 Illinois Avenue in Eldorado.

Monday, March 15, White County Fairgrounds Floral Hall, 201 Fairground Road in Carmi.

Appointments are required, and can be made by calling (618) 297-9677. Callers should leave their name, number, and date of birth, and they will receive a return call with an appointment time.

Participants do not need to be a current Ferrell Hospital patient; however, anyone scheduling an appointment must meet at least one of the criteria as determined by the Illinois Department of Health.

<b>Illinois Phase 1B / 1B Plus COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility</b>

Age 65 or older

Frontline essential worker (Below are example of front-line workers within the eligible categories for Phase 1b, Part 1.)

First responders: fire, law enforcement, 911 worker, security personnel, school officer

Education: K-12 teacher, school administrator, student support staff, student aide, day care worker and center-based child care provider, home visiting provider, early intervention therapists, Head Start/Early Head Start provider, Preschool for All provider

Food and agriculture: processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services, animal care

Manufacturing: industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale, or other manufactures

Corrections workers and incarcerated individuals: correctional officer and staff, jail officer and staff, juvenile facility staff, a worker providing in-person support or services, incarcerated individuals

U.S. Postal Service worker

Public transit worker: flight crew, bus driver, train conductor, taxi driver, para-transit driver, in-person support, ride sharing service driver

Grocery store worker: bagger, cashier, stocker, pickup, customer service

Shelters and adult day care staff: homeless shelter, women's shelter, adult day/drop-in program, sheltered workshop

Be age 16-64 years with at least one of the following high-risk medical conditions

Obesity

Diabetes

Pulmonary Diseases

Smoking

Heart Conditions

Chronic Kidney Disease

Cancer

Solid Organ Transplant

Sickle Cell Disease

Pregnancy

Persons with a Disability (Not otherwise covered in previous categories.)

Ferrell Hospital acknowledges special thanks to the Army National Guard, Loren Wilson and the congregation at College Heights Baptist Church, and the White County Fair Board for their assistance in coordinating these vaccination clinics.

The process and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the state is being directed and overseen by the Illinois Department of Public Health. More about the vaccine and distribution process is available at the IDPH website: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccination-plan.