DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) has learned the number of COVID-19 vaccines allocated to DuPage County in the next three weeks for first doses will be very limited. This week, DCHD expects to receive only 2,450 vaccines for first doses for distribution to vaccine providers in DuPage County which is much lower than the recent average of 14,000 new vaccine doses previously received each week. This lower allocation of new first doses means DCHD’s Community Vaccination Clinic and other local providers will be primarily focused on administering second doses and very limited appointments for new first doses will be available. We fully expect the vaccine supply will catch up over the next few weeks and additional new first dose appointments will become more accessible in early to mid-March. Until vaccine supply increases, DuPage County will not be expanding to the Phase 1b Part II group announced by the Governor last week that includes individuals ages 16–64 years with co-morbidities and underlying conditions, as well as individuals with disabilities.
Also of concern, DCHD has received confirmation of the first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the United Kingdom (U.K.), in a DuPage County resident. Although this is the first case of this new variant reported in DuPage County, there have been 25 cases reported throughout Illinois to date.
Please read the full press release(PDF) for more information on these important issues.