BREAKING: Rock Island County Expands Vaccinations To Anyone Over 16
BREAKING NEWS: Anyone over 16 will be eligible to get a covid-19 vaccination in Rock Island County.
According to the Rock Island County Health Department, the RICHD is expanding vaccine eligibility effective today to all Illinois residents 16 
and older at its clinic at the Camden Centre in Milan. Appointments are available this week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health gave local health departments the authority on Friday to expand vaccination to broader groups, based upon increasing availability of the three currently authorized vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson
The eligibility expansion comes as Rock Island County is seeing rapidly rising COVID-19 infections, especially in younger people.
“With this expansion, we are trying to curb a recent rise in infections in Rock Island County by getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said Nita Ludwig, administrator of the Rock Island County Health Department. “We are able to vaccinate thousands every week with the help of the National Guard.”
Appointments must be scheduled in advance. Links for the online registration system are available at richd.org and the Rock Island County Health Department Facebook page. The registration system requires use of a voucher code. This code is found on the same online posting as the registration link. The clinic is open Monday-Saturday, including this week on Good Friday and the Saturday before Easter.
This expansion is for vaccinations administered only at the National Guard-assisted clinic at the Camden Centre, 2701 E. 1st St., Milan. All other vaccination sites in Rock Island County can follow current IDPH guidelines, which expand today to food and beverage workers, construction trades workers, and clergy. All Illinois residents 16 and older become eligible everywhere in the state on April 12.
Pfizer is authorized for residents 16 and older; Moderna and Johnson & Johnson can be given to those 18 and older. The type of vaccine that will be given is listed on the clinic registration link.
Health officials also urge patients to eat something and drink water before coming to the clinic. Having a meal before the vaccine could help those with a history of fainting, and water prevents dehydration.
Until almost everyone is vaccinated, we must continue basic public health infection controls:
• Stay home as much as possible and especially when ill
• Wear a face covering when you are in public
• Keep at least 6 feet between you and anyone else in public
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer
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