March 2021 brought opportunities for Fitzgerald Pharmacy, 124 E. Main Street, Morrison, IL, to hold COVID-19 vaccination clinics for area persons age 65 or older, plus some “essential workers” who may be younger. The pharmacy has been calling their customers to notify them of the availability of the Moderna vaccine. Appointments are necessary, using www.fitzgeraldpharmacy.com or by calling 815-772-3415. Persons can check their eligibility and schedule appointments, using the Whiteside County Health Department online questionnaire.
Everyone will be called to set up their second appointment a month later.
Pharmacist Dan Engelkins reported on Wednesday, March 24, that 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine would be given during that day and Thursday, March 25, beginning about 9:30 a.m. This was exciting, because the first clinic on Wednesday, March 10, had 50 appointments for doses. On Wednesday, March 17, 30 people were vaccinated. The pharmacy receives only the number of bottles for the appointments they have. Walk-ins are not encouraged.
Rita and Arlyn Madsen, Lyndon, IL, spend part of the winter in Alabama. Both are in their early 70s, but they were “too young” to qualify for the vaccine in that State. They arrived home on Sunday, March 21. Three days later, the couple received their first COVID-19 vaccinations from Engelkins.
Rita Madsen, age 73, was asked how she felt about being vaccinated by Engelkins. “I am just glad we’re finally getting it. We go down South [during the winter.] We tried, but we just couldn’t get it to work out.”
Arlyn Madsen is 72. He and Rita have been married 53 years. He echoed his wife’s comments. “I am awful glad to get it [the COVID-19 vaccine]! We tried all winter long, but we were too young.”
For the Madsens, as with most persons–of any age–who receive the protective vaccination–regardless of which brand–there is a sense of relief, gratitude, and calm.
Besides Fitzgerald Pharmacy, two other opportunities are available to be vaccinated against the novel corona virus.
- The Illinois National Guard Response Vaccination Team is coming to Whiteside County, on Monday, April 5, to provide a single-shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to Whiteside County residents in Phase 1a, 1b, and 1b+ eligibility categories. Make an appointment online at http://covidvaccination.dph.illinois.gov/ or call 833-621-1284.
- Rock Island County Health Department has begun mass vaccinations, at the Camden Centre, 2701 1st Street E., Milan, IL. Multiple people can be vaccinated at the same time slot, so couples can go at the same time of day. Be sure to register each person separately for the same chosen time. Masks are required. Make an appointment online at https://www.richd.org/ or call 309-787-8510. There is a Voucher Code and link to the appointment system; you must enter the Voucher Code to set an appointment. Print out, or use a mobile phone to photograph, the QR code, and bring that to the Camden Centre.
