As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Illinois, the village of Homewood is encouraging all eligible residents to get vaccinated to best protect themselves, their families and their neighbors, as well as help ensure the community’s long-term economic recovery.
This recommendation follows the announcement on Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine. Prior to Monday, the vaccinate was available as an emergency measure to combat the pandemic.
The village also is following guidance from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which maintains that vaccines are the best way to protect our communities and move towards a post-pandemic world.
Further, IDPH has reported that cases, hospitalizations and deaths are surging most in areas with lower vaccination rates.
People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose, if receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The CDC recently recommended those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive a third dose if they received either Pfizer or Moderna. Vaccines are effective against severe illness and death from COVID-19, as well as variants currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant, according to the CDC.
“Vaccines have shown to be instrumental in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19, and I encourage all residents who have not been vaccinated already to talk with their doctor to see if getting vaccinated is right for them. By getting vaccinated, we can better combat the highly transmissible Delta variant, help Homewood move past this pandemic and fully recover. We are all in this together.” said Mayor Richard Hofeld.
The CDC’s COVID data tracker tracks cases, deaths and transmission trends at the state and county level. Currently, all Illinois counties meet the metrics for substantial to high community transmission.
Prairie State College will be the site for COVID-19 vaccinations from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, at its main campus, 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights.