Solely about one-fourth of McLean County jail inmates took the COVID-19 vaccine when the county hosted a clinic on the jail final week.
McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage stated he is undecided why hesitancy seems to be a lot increased than within the normal inhabitants, however he stated it appears in step with different jails in Illinois.
“We predict there’ll probably be extra as soon as they see that there (are) no uncomfortable side effects or delicate uncomfortable side effects from the shot, and if that’s the case we are going to schedule one other clinic,” Sandage stated.
Inmates acquired the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Jail inmates are amongst one of many few populations in McLean County to obtain the one-dose vaccine, to this point. The McLean County Well being Division (MCHD) stated it has a restricted provide of that vaccine.
Sandage stated that it is simpler to distribute the one-dose vaccine for the reason that inmate inhabitants is incessantly altering.
“When you could have a inhabitants that’s out and in and laborious to trace, the one shot positively benefited us,” he stated.
Illinois Nationwide Guard members assisted with the vaccine distribution because it has achieved with the county-run clinics at Grossinger Motors Enviornment and different places, including Illinois State University.
Sandage stated 64 inmates out of the 235 who have been underneath confinement signed up for the vaccine. That’s 27% of the jail inhabitants. He stated the sheriff’s workplace offered info to inmates in regards to the well being advantages of getting the vaccine, however stated he didn’t attempt to incentivize getting the vaccine by suggesting it may result in restrictions being lifted sooner.
“We actually can’t make that promise as a result of we might get lots of people vaccinated and nonetheless have some instances,” stated Sandage, including the jail has partially eased lockdown restrictions, permitting a restricted variety of inmates within the day room at a given time.
The sheriff indicated lower than 15% of jail employees acquired the vaccine on the clinic. Sandage stated he does not know what number of might have gotten the vaccine elsewhere.
Fewer than a dozen inmates and fewer than a dozen employees members have examined optimistic for the coronavirus over the past yr, he stated; a number of employees members required hospitalization.
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