PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria City/County Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson Thursday encouraged area residents to honor mothers this weekend by getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Often we recognize moms and mother figures for all they do for us — especially the quality that they put the needs of others before themselves,” said Hendrickson. “This Mother’s Day it’s important to emulate mothers, and put the needs of our community before ourselves and get vaccinated.”
33.8% of the population of the tri-county of Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties has been vaccinated, according to Hendrickson.
However, she says they are seeing many of the vaccine hesitancy issues being seen nationwide.
“The hesitancy is really mixed — some people are a definite no, and there’s other people that are still waiting,” said Hendrickson. “It’s a spectrum of interest and hesitancy.
“Part of it is taking away all the different barriers.”
Residents around the area considered vaccine accessibility as the largest barrier to vaccination, according to a Peoria City/County Health Department vaccine readiness survey.
The health department has tried to provide more accessibility through different community clinics in Peoria, some of which don’t require appointments.
“Now we’re at a point where we need to meet people where they are,” said Hendrickson.
OSF HealthCare’s Dr. Michael Leonardi Thursday discussed some hesitancy pregnant women may have towards the vaccine.
“There is not any increase in adverse symptoms related to the vaccine in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant patients,” said Leonardi. “There’s not any increase in risk for adverse pregnancy outcome.”
Leonardi said pregnant women with concerns should discuss the vaccine with their doctor to make an informed decision on what’s best for them.
He also said antibodies produced by pregnant women will be passed along to their children for at least the first two months after the child’s delivery.
“COVID is more dangerous than any of the concerns people have about vaccines,” said Leonardi.
According to Leonardi, a pregnant patient is two to three times more likely to be hospitalized, and one and a half times more likely to die due to COVID-19.
An updating list of vaccine sites throughout the area can be found here.
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