New website designed to help Will County residents find vaccination appointments

A new online search feature on the Will County Health Department’s website is designed to make it easier for residents to find vaccine locations and make appointments.

Officials Friday released details of the new feature, located at www.willcountyhealth.org. Residents will be able to search for vaccination clinics offered through the health department as well as search for appointments at pharmacies and other providers.

Health department officials continued to encourage residents age 65 and older get vaccinated. As of Friday, 28,349 residents over 65 had been fully vaccinated, according to a news release.

Gov. J. B. Pritzker outlined plans Thursday to “bridge” the state into phase five, which would allow for increased capacity at restaurants and gatherings.

Under the plan, expanded capacities would be implemented when 70% of residents 65 and older are vaccinated. As of Thursday, 58% had been vaccinated.

New Lenox officials this week also announced two clinics for residents 65 and older. Osco Pharmacy and the Will County Health Department will hold clinics March 24 and 25 at LincolnWay Central and Lincoln-Way West high schools, respectively. Appointments are required and a few spots remained open Friday. Information is available a newlenox.net.

“We’ve got a lot of people who meet the criteria,” Mayor Tim Baldermann said. “We are just fortunate that we were able to put a location in place.”

He said 800 vaccination appointments were made available each day and that those who attend the New Lenox clinics will also be able to return in 21 days for their second dose.

Will County Board of Health officials next week are expected to discuss Wednesday a proposal for a director of equity for vaccine. The request was made by a coalition of community based organizations that raised questions about the distribution of vaccine in minority communities.