Priority Enrollment For Coronavirus Vaccine Opens In McHenry Cty

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The new vaccine protecting Americans from the coronavirus is now available for priority populations in McHenry County. Here's what residents need to know.

The first round of vaccine distribution, characterized at Phase 1A, will be dolled out to health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Vaccine distribution will not enter Phases 1B and 1C until all eligible people in Phase 1A who wish to be vaccinated receive the inoculation.

In Phase 1B, vaccines will be given to senior citizens, first responders, teachers and other child care or education workers, those who work in corrections and jail facilities and food and agriculture workers.

Also prioritized in Phase 1B are United States Postal Service employees, public transit employees including flight crews and ride-share drivers, grocery store and customer service workers and people who work in shelters, adult day cares and psycho-social rehab facilities.

When Phase 1B vaccinations are complete, the county will move on to vaccinating qualifying people in Phase 1C.

Phase 1C includes people between ages 16 and 64 with high-risk medical conditions, those who work in transportation, logistics, wastewater, food service, shelter and housing construction, finance, information technology, public safety, public health and communications.

Other essential workers can also be vaccinated in Phase 1C.

Upon completion of Phases 1A through 1C, vaccines will be distributed to the general public. Members of the general public cannot enroll to receive a vaccine at this time.

For qualifying people in Phases 1A through 1C, online enrollment is now open.

On its website, the county clarifies that enrollment is not the same as registering for an appointment to receive the vaccine. Enrollment data is used to determine the amount of the vaccine that will be distributed to each priority group.

Once a resident enrolls, a separate link will be sent via email on how to register for an appointment once a clinic time becomes available, the county said.

Enrollment can be completed on behalf of an individual, a household or an organization. To enroll an organization, a registrant must provide a point person's contact information and the total number of staff members who want to receive the vaccine.

Enrollment for vaccine Phases 1B and 1C can be completed at this webpage.

Health care providers and others in Phase 1A are to enroll using the Healthcare Provider Enrollment form instead of the Phase 1B and 1C form.

Members of the general public can sign up to receive e-notifications, which will include an update on when they can enroll to be get vaccinated. To sign up, residents can complete the eNotifications Signup form on this webpage.

The county said a high volume of submissions has caused some errors with the enrollment system. Anyone who receives an error message when submitting a registration is asked to retry.