UPDATE:
09/11/2023
Due to DCHD’s current inventory of covid vaccine expiring & the FDA’s recent approval of the new monovalent covid vaccine, DCHD is temporarily pausing administration of covid vaccine.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets 09/12/23 to provide guideline recommendations and be approved by the Director of the CDC. After this occurs, DCHD will need to order the vaccine based on recommendations. Please continue to check DCHD’s website and social media for updates regarding COVID-19 vaccines offered at the Health Department. In the meantime, you can also reach out to your medical provider or local pharmacy for COVID-19 vaccine availability.
COVID-19 Vaccines CURRENTLY PAUSED at the DeKalb County Health Department
Providers offering the COVID-19 Vaccine can be found using the vaccines.gov website.
According to the CDC, flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time.
Other Options to Receive Vaccine- Local Pharmacies
Visit www.vaccines.gov
COVID-19 Vaccination Card
You will receive a COVID-19 vaccination card after you get your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The card tells you:
- Which COVID-19 vaccine you received.
- The dates you received the vaccine(s).
- Where you received it.
If you received a COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses (Pfizer and Moderna), bring the card to your appointment so the information can be filled in.
If you did not receive a vaccination card at your first appointment or have lost your vaccination card, contact the provider that administered the vaccination. If you are unable to contact the provider, there are other ways of obtaining your COVID-19 vaccination record:
- If you received the vaccine from the DeKalb County Health Department, please call 815-748-2467 to request your replacement vaccine card.
- Visit IDPH’s page for information about Illinois’ web-based immunization record-sharing. https://idphportal.illinois.gov/s/?language=en_US
- If you enrolled in v-safe after your first vaccine dose, you can access your vaccination information there.
- Talk to a vaccination provider if you were unable to retrieve your vaccination information through the previously mentioned methods.
After getting vaccinated, keep your card safe. It is best to keep it protected by using a plastic sleeve rather than laminating it. You should not post your vaccination card on social media as it contains personal information.
How do I get a QR Code to Confirm my COVID-19 Status?
If you need a QR code to confirm your COVID-19 vaccination status, you will need to register for the Illinois Vax Verify System: Vax Verify
New updates to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Vax Verify immunization portal now includes use of the SMART™ Health Card.
The SMART™ Health Card allows users to download a QR code, which individuals can use to easily confirm their COVID-19 vaccination status at businesses, events, and other locations.
Vax Verify is an online system that allows Illinois residents 18 years and older to check their COVID-19 vaccination record. Vax Verify can be accessed at https://idphportal.illinois.gov
The DeKalb County Health Department does not have the ability to create QR codes for your vaccine, you will need to follow the link above to access the State system.
Vaccine Safety
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Results from these monitoring efforts are reassuring. While some people don’t have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, many people will have mild side effects after COVID-19 vaccination, like pain or swelling at the injection site, a headache, chills, or fever. These reactions are normal and show the vaccine is working. A small number of people have had a severe allergic reaction (called “anaphylaxis”) after vaccination, but this is extremely rare and when it does happen, vaccination providers have medicines available that they can use to effectively and immediately treat the reaction. You will be asked to stay for 15–30 minutes after you get your vaccine so you can be observed and provided treatment in the rare case it is needed.
The combination of COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others offers the best protection from COVID-19. CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE