The McDonough County Health Department will hold a Back-to-School Vaccination Clinic Wednesday, July 15 at its 505 E. Jackson St. office.
The clinic will be held from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome; however, appointments, which are encouraged, can be made by calling (309) 837-9951. The clinic is intended for students in grades K-12, and will offer the offer vaccines that are required for school enrollment/attendance. Vaccines will be billed to insurance and/or provided at minimal cost for those without insurance.
As of July 2, there have been 2,170 confirmed measles cases reported in the U.S., which includes 31 outbreaks across 46 jurisdictions. Health official throughout the nation have expressed concern over lagging vaccination rates resulting in the growing cases of once-eradicated childhood diseases, such as measles and whooping cough (pertussis). Over 93 percent of measles cases in 2026 are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, said health department personnel.
'Vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective ways to protect individuals, their families, and the community from preventable diseases. It is important that both children and adults receive all vaccinations recommended for their age,' Chris Adams, director of the MCHD, previously told the Community News Brief. 'Most people who have received the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are protected for life. However, adults who meet certain age criteria, lack documentation of vaccination, or do not have evidence of immunity may need an MMR vaccine. Those individuals should consult their primary care provider to determine whether an additional MMR vaccination is recommended.'
Guidelines regarding vaccinations and immunizations can be found at the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/vaccines. Vaccine schedules and additional information are also provided on the CDC site.
'Vaccine research, oversight and administration are conducted by individuals and agencies that have spent years in study and research seeking to improve health outcomes and provide the safest means possible to prevent death and disease,' Niki Duffy, emergency response coordinator and public information officer at the health department, added 'Vaccines undergo rigorous testing and study before being approved for use and even after approval is granted, vaccines are monitored for continued safety.'
