Vaccination is the key to preventing severe illness. Hospitalization rates for complications of COVID-19 remain significantly lower for vaccinated individuals across all age groups in Illinois. The Iroquois County Public Health Department is offering two free, “after hours” COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The first clinic will be Wednesday, February 9 from 4:30 until 6:00 PM. The second option will be Saturday, February 26 from 9:00 AM until noon. All three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J) will be available. Individuals ages 5 and up are eligible for a primary series (Pfizer only for ages 5-17) and individuals 12 and up are eligible for a booster dose (Pfizer only for ages 12-17). Please call (815)432-2483 to schedule a vaccine. Please note that individuals under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present at the time of vaccination. At this time, there is no cost for the COVID-19 vaccine. If you do not feel well the day of your appointment or are in isolation or quarantine, please do not attend. Patients will need to wear a face covering, practice social distancing, and plan to allow at least 15 minutes for observation after the vaccination. Please wear clothing to allow easy access to the upper portion of the arm for the injection. The Illinois Department of Public Health has compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccination. Information can be found at: http://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq. For individual concerns regarding allergies or other medical conditions please consult your own medical provider.