Chillicothe Public Library strives to be a point of clarity and a provider of accurate information. Science has shown that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and everyone over the age of 12 is able to receive one of the three approved vaccine options.
If you still need to be vaccinated, we will be hosting a clinic here at the library with Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines available. No appointment necessary; just show up on August 9 between 9 am and 3 pm to receive your vaccine. A follow up clinic will be in September for those needing a second dose (Moderna and Pfizer).
If August 9 doesn’t work for you, you can visit vaccines.gov, the Peoria County Health Department, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find vaccination providers and locations near you. Pharmacy websites are another good place to look for information on vaccination locations in the area.
Herd Immunity:
The more individuals who receive a vaccine, the more protected the entire community will be. By becoming vaccinated, you are protecting those who are unable to (in this case, children under the age of 12). Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected—not just those who are immune. The sooner we reach herd immunity; the sooner we can get back to normal.
Variants:
Information about variants is rapidly emerging, and scientists are working hard to learn about how they spread, how contagious they are, and whether authorized vaccines will protect people against them.
The United States is currently monitoring four notable variants. They each seem to be spreading quickly and easily which could lead to more cases of COVID-19. What we know so far suggests that current authorized vaccines work to protect against these variants.
The bottom line is that we all need to work together to ensure that we are keeping ourselves and each other safe. This means continuing to take safety precautions like social distancing and wearing a mask, especially when in indoor, crowded environments.
Because a virus has to be transmitted in order to replicate and produce the mutations that lead to these variants, widespread vaccination is an effective way to slow the emergence of even more problematic variants.
Resources for more info:
- State of Illinois COVID-19 Website – The portal lists vaccination locations, vaccination appointment information, FAQs, and updates on the Illinois Vaccination Plan.
- Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 Vaccine Information – IDPH has the State of Illinois vaccination plan on this page, as well as an extensive Q&A section.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccine Information – The CDC provides country wide vaccine updates.
- US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) COVID-19 Vaccine Information – Information and updates on vaccine developments and vaccines that are currently approved.
- The Conversation Between Us, About US – A campaign from Greater Than COVID and the Black Coalition Against COVID where black doctors, nurses, and researchers dispel misinformation and provide facts about COVID-19 vaccines.
- COVID Data Tracker – To keep track of the level of community transmission in your specific county.