MCLEAN COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD) — The McLean County Health Department partnered with Carle Health Services to provide back-to-school vaccines and physicals for students in McLean County.
“We are focusing on those back-to-school vaccines, which are going to range from going to kindergarten through sixth grade and then going into 12th grade,” said Casie Smith, clinical nurse manager for the Mclean County Health Department.
The Western Avenue Community Center hosted this clinic, where many students came in to get their required vaccines and physicals completed. If they are not completed, they are unable to return to school in the coming weeks.
They aren’t only important for school purposes, but also for the safety and health of the public.
“The importance of vaccinations is just to help control the spread of diseases. Herd immunity is very beneficial when it comes to protecting ourselves. And so that’s what we’re here trying to do,” Smith said.
The Carle Mobile Health Service was also at the clinic today, providing physicals for student athletes. The mobile health service is just another way for people to get the care they need whenever they need it.
“We really just try to be another access point to families all around the community just to try to make it as easy as they can to obtain the needed care, whether it’s for school physicals or really any kind of family medicine,” said Kelly Parker, R.N., the nurse manager for Carle Mobile Health Services.
Information for upcoming clinics can be found below, as well as on the McLean County Health Department website.
- Normal hours for vaccine appointments at MCHD (must make an appointment):
- Mon-Wed – 8:20 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.
- Late hours for back-to-school vaccine appointments at MCHD (must make an appointment):
- Mon, Aug. 11 – 9:20 a.m. – 4:40 p.m.
- Mon, Aug. 18 – 9:20 a.m. – 4:40 p.m.
- Walk-in back-to-school vaccine clinics (no appointment needed):
- Wed, July 30 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Western Avenue Community Center, 600 N. Western Ave, Bloomington (last walk-in for vaccines taken at 3:30 p.m.)
- Fri, Aug. 1 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Danvers Township Building, 898 N. West St., Danvers (last walk-in for vaccines taken at 3:30 p.m.)
- Tue, Aug. 12 – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4:30 p.m. at the health department. (last walk-in for vaccines taken at 3:45 p.m.)
- Wed, Aug. 13 – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4:30 p.m. at the health department. (last walk-in for vaccines taken at 3:45 p.m.)
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