We need more Greene Counties
Friday, Feb 5, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greene County (pop. 13,886) got a shout-out from Gov. Pritzker today for its vaccination success…
We’ve taken very seriously the direction of local public health departments and the needs that they have. We’ve provided some grants, we’ve tried to offer any help that we can at… the state level. We can’t make decisions for local counties with regard to what is best in a certain part of their community versus another part of their community, if they know the county better than we do. We want to take their advice and just try to help them accomplish the goal of getting people to those sites where they can get vaccinated. But believe me we want to, we have some of our rural counties by the way that are some of the best in the state, our rural counties delivering vaccines.
Greene County is an example. And I’ve mentioned them before in press conferences because it’s kind of remarkable for a small county to be able to do what they’ve done, to get the vaccines off the shelf into people’s arms as quickly as they have. I’m very proud of that, but also of the many counties that really stepped up to get this job done.
The county has administered 1,972 doses so far.
* The governor’s chief of staff also raved about the county’s efforts today…
* From January 20th…
Some parts of Illinois are further along. In small, downstate Greene County, about an hour north of St. Louis, the public health department has already started vaccinating teachers and others who have been exposed to the virus.
That includes Kathy Burkholder, 77. As a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, she delivers food inside people’s homes. Burkholder got her shot last week.
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 2:11 pm:
And yet, the governor and his staff don’t have a plan yet to vaccinate all university staff.
Lead by example, folks.
- ArchPundit@gmail.com - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 2:34 pm:
Thank you to Anne and the Governor, and especially the Greene County Health Department. My dad got his first shot a few days ago and goes back for round 2 on the 19th. He’ll be 83 next month it’s a bit of a modern medical miracle that he’s made it this far given how he lived so hopefully he gets some more mileage out of that body now.
- Not the Dude - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 2:40 pm:
Good for them. Not having enough vaccine is the biggest problem in my county, not how to administer.
- Norseman - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 2:44 pm:
Praises for success stories always seem to involve smaller jurisdictions. I wonder whether this is due to implementation prowess, the benefits of size or a combination of both. If the resources were available and time permitted, an analysis would be good. However, neither seems to be in great supply so we can just hope for the best.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 2:47 pm:
Congrats to Greene County, the Governor, and his Crew.
“More like this, please”
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:04 pm:
I received my shot in Greene County last week. This was a very professional and well organized effort. These people did a fantastic job and smiled the whole time!!!
They should be recognized for a job well done. Thank you to all of them.
- Grateful Gail - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:10 pm:
Clinton County in southern Illinois has done a great job. The Health Department has distributed the vaccines to the small communities, and is getting the job done. There was a sign up email and phone number, and the health department responded to everyone. Well done!
- RNUG - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:12 pm:
Good for them.
FWIW … Sangamon seems to be getting their act together. A number of friends and myself managed to schedule appointments through the public health web site today.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:41 pm:
==Not having enough vaccine is the biggest problem in my county, not how to administer. ==
I’m not even sure what the problem is in my county.
DuPage has had an email update list that doubles as notification for your slot.
But there isn’t a confirmation when you subscribe, nor have any emails been sent. For weeks. The website was updated weeks ago with mention of 1b and that’s it.
If people had an idea- any idea- of what was going on they’d be a lot happier. The people I speak with are growing increasingly frustrated with the County board members whether or not it’s their fault.
- Almost Retired - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:53 pm:
The Macon County Health Department is regularly vaccinating residents and have done drive up clinics and have gone to appointments. Appointments fill up quick and that generates complaints but the Health Department is not at fault for the supply. The second shot gets automatically scheduled. The Department’s nurses and other staff involved in giving the vaccinations are very pleasant, very helpful and very emphatic. They have quietly done a very good job with vaccinations and in dealing with enforcing or facilitating compliance with the mitigations even with a tough (and stupid) political position taken by the Republican controlled County Board against some of the mitigations. Compliments to the Macon County Health Department.
- No relation - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 3:57 pm:
– “More like this, please” –
How about next door in Jersey Co with 3363 shots and 2.63% fully vaccinated or Macoupin with 5832 shots and 2.67% fully vaccinated.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 4:04 pm:
“If people had an idea- any idea- of what was going on they’d be a lot happier. The people I speak with are growing increasingly frustrated with the County board members whether or not it’s their fault.”
Blame federalism. Every other developed nation does this better because we maintain the best system of government that was available in the 19th century.
- Greene County GOP - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 4:04 pm:
Trump won Greene County with 76% of the vote.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Feb 5, 21 @ 4:08 pm:
“Trump won Greene County with 76% of the vote.”
So basically every sane person has already gotten the vaccine and there is no need to deliver any more for the first round. LOL.