CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, PromiseHealthcare, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is preparing two community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Champaign County residents 75 years of age or older.

The group will hold vaccination clinics Jan. 12-14, 2021 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only. Appointments are available at either community location regardless of where a person receives medical care.

To register for a vaccination at the former Dress Barn store in the Kohl’s Plaza located at 1901 N. Market St., Champaign, please use one of the following methods:

  • The fastest way to register is online through MyCarle.
  • Log in or sign up for MyCarle at MyCarle.com. 
  • Scheduling is also available by calling (217) 902-6100, but a caller may experience a longer wait time.
  • If a person does not feel well on the day of their appointment, please call to reschedule.

To register for a vaccination at the iHotel and Conference Center located at 1900 S. 1st St., Champaign, please use one of the following methods:

  • Online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B054CA8A82CA5F94-covid1.
  • Scheduling is also available by calling (217) 239-7877.
  • Entrance for the clinic will be through the east wing of the iHotel and Conference Center.
  • If a person does not feel well on the day of their appointment, please call to reschedule.

The vaccination is free but providers may charge an administrative fee which is determined by an individual’s insurance coverage. If a person has questions about their specific coverage, please call the number on the back of the insurance card.

The two clinics provide an easy and accessible entrance and protection from the elements while accommodating the necessary social distancing. Patients will need to wear a face covering and plan to allow at least 15 minutes for observation after the vaccination. Please limit the number of individuals in a party that are not receiving the vaccine and wear clothing to allow easy access to the upper portion of the arm for the injection.

Pfizer and Moderna are both a two-dose series that are 90-95 percent effective after both vaccinations, with the second dose either 21 or 28 days later as directed by the manufacturer. Individuals will receive information on how to sign up for text reminders for their second dose as well as receive a vaccination record card with their return date for the second dose. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same safety standards as all vaccines. Factors that resulted in an accelerated vaccine development timeline include:

  • Researchers used existing clinical trial networks to begin conducting COVID-19 vaccine trials.
  • Manufacturing was started while the clinical trials were still underway. Normally, manufacturing doesn’t begin until after completion of the trials.
  • mRNA vaccines are faster to produce than traditional vaccines.
  • FDA and CDC are prioritizing review, authorization, and recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines.

For more information, visit the COVID-19 Prevention Network: https://www.coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org/about-covpn.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccination. Information can be found by visiting http://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq.