A message for our readers

The Galena Gazette is providing all of its news stories and photos of the COVID-19 pandemic with no payment required as a public service and in an effort so you can be totally knowledgeable as to how the pandemic affects you. Please consider a print or online subscription to support this vital reporting by a locally owned business .

Jo Daviess County vaccination roll out still in infancy: Health department is preaching patience

Shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 25, this is how the registration screen looked like on jodaviess.org for COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

Posted Monday, January 25, 2021 5:59 pm

Jo Daviess County reaches 1,500 COVID cases

GALENA–COVID numbers passed 1,500 in Jo Daviess County. As of Monday, Jan. 25, Jo Daviess County has reported 1,514 cases since the spring. There have been 33 new cases since Jan. 17. Approximately 1,450 of these cases have recovered. There have been 24 deaths in the county due to COVID since the start of the pandemic with no new deaths since Monday.

As of Saturday, Jan. 23, the three highest areas in Jo Daviess County have been 445 cases in the 61036 zip code (Galena), an increase in 12 cases since last Saturday; 273 cases in the 61085 zip code (Stockton), an increase of seven; and 254 cases in the 61025 zip code (East Dubuque), an increase of six.

Jo Daviess County has administered 886 doses of the COVID vaccine, an increase of 178, with 112 people fully vaccinated, an increase of 10. There has been 0.52 percent of the county that has been fully vaccinated.

Grant County, Wis. has reported 4,415 cases as of Jan. 24, an increase of 80 cases since last week. There have been 78 deaths since the start of the pandemic, Grant County has reported one additional death due to COVID.

Lafayette County, Wis. has reported 1,348 cases, an increase of 23 since last week, with seven deaths. Lafayette County reported one death this week with COVID.

The census tract that includes Hazel Green and Kieler had 443 cases, an increase of ten cases, with six deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Dubuque County, Iowa, has reported 11,622 cases and 159 deaths since the spring.

by Brandon Behlke

bbehlke@galgazette.com

GALENA–The vaccination landscape is changing rapidly for the Jo Daviess County Health Department as the vaccine rollout and allotment is updated and changed.

The department is asking for patience especially at a time when staff members are barraged with phone calls. Staff is also performing contact tracing and other tasks at the same time.

Registration was scheduled to go live at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 25 at jodaviess.org for appointments on Wednesday, Jan. 27, Thursday, Jan. 28 and Friday, Jan. 29. The plan is for sign up to take place every Monday at the same time, depending on the number of vaccine doses available for that week.

When sign up went live at 11:04 a.m., people were anxiously waiting. The computer screen told that story with most appointment times already booked. There were only a few green boxes–open slots–in a sea of red.

It was stressful as people clicked through, answering questions and waiting for an open time slot for the first week of the Phase 1B rollout. Some were ultimately successful and many others were not. After about 45 minutes, all the spots were reserved.

According to health department officials, an error with the Illinois Department of Public Health website over the weekend resulted in the link going live earlier than planned, which meant the health department had to cancel some appointments. Appointments are more limited than expected.

Patience is the main message Jo Daviess County Health Department Administrator Sandra, Schleicher is preaching as the vaccination rollout is still in its infancy.

“We are stressing the patience piece,” she said. “You might click on the link and there might not be appointments available. Everyone will get one, it just won’t all happen next week. It is coming, I promise.”

The health department is anticipating 8,000 people in the county are included in the 1B vaccine rollout.

“There are questions popping up that we didn’t think about or know about,” Schleicher added. “There may be even more than 8,000 people.”

The department is only receiving 200 doses this week and doesn’t know about the vaccine allotment until the Tuesday prior.

“We’ve never come up with a good way to meet demand,” said Schleicher. “We are going to open it up for first come, first serve. People can register for two time slots at a time. I think demand will exceed what we have for next week.”

For those who have called, Schleicher and her staff are emphasizing patience. Schleicher said appointments will close when the allocated vaccine doses for that week are reserved.

“Be patient and hopefully we will have more next week,” said Schleicher.

The other piece complicating things involves planning for the second dose. This limits the number of vaccines available for first-time distribution.

Schleicher has said the health department will be collaborating with Midwest Medical Center and Medical Associates to provide clinics to those eligible who live or work in Jo Daviess County.

“(COVID) is all that we are doing right now,” said Schleicher.

Schleicher has also learned the state anticipates distribution at pharmacies in the next few weeks. No other details are available, but she is hopeful this will ease some of the burden on the health department.

Schleicher has also heard about the potential of National Guard members visiting the county to perform mass vaccination clinics.

One of the greatest concerns involves residents who don’t have internet access. Schleicher is hopeful neighbors and relatives will help those in need, but she is also planning to reach out to libraries and the Senior Resource Center for their assistance

“Anybody will be able to access the website,” said Schleicher. “If you want to register for somebody, please do. We need everyone to help their neighbors.”