Many Lake County residents have been signing up to get the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine, with more than 23,000 people already fully vaccinated, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. As of February, Lake County is in Phase 1A and 1B, meaning that essential workers, long-term care residents and adults over the age of 65 are eligible to receive the vaccine.

To aid with organized distribution of the vaccine, Lake County created an online portal called AllVax where residents can register to receive the vaccine and be notified once they are eligible. According to the Lake County Health Department (LCHD), more than 341,000 people have registered out of approximately 700,000 total residents. 

Along with local medical professionals and long-term care residents, teachers are also able to receive the vaccine in the current phase. Mr. Chris Wolf, an AP Biology Teacher, was one of the first recipients from our school. He received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine in early February. 

“It felt pretty neat to be part of the first round of vaccinations. This is a brand new vaccine that is out and will hopefully revolutionize how we make vaccines in the future,” Mr. Wolf said.

D128 Administration encourages their teachers to be regularly tested and receive the vaccine in order to contain the spread of the virus and protect our community. 

“Dr. Lea, [the D128 Superintendent], has been really good about emailing staff about updates… and encouraging us to get vaccinated,” Mr. Wolf said. 

As a biology teacher, Mr. Wolf appreciates the research and innovation that has been taking place to develop the mRNA type of vaccine. In basic terms, the CDC explains that the vaccines “teach our cells how to make a protein, or even just a piece of a protein, that triggers an immune response inside our bodies…. which produces antibodies.” 

Although the research has been going on for a number of years, this is the first time they are able to use the new concept on such a large scale.

According to the Lake County website, the LCHD’s goal is to vaccinate 80% of its residents within the next six months. In order to achieve this, they must significantly increase the rate of daily vaccinations, which is constrained by the limited supply. 

The Lake County Data Hub shows that since the first batch of vaccines arrived in Lake County during the week of Dec. 14, they have received fluctuating amounts ranging from 1,200 to 14,000 doses each week, which is not nearly enough to sustain their goal. The projected amount of weekly doses must be over 43,000 for them to achieve 80% in six months.