To get more COVID-19 vaccines out to rural residents, Genesis Medical Center-Aledo is one of nine hospitals scheduled to receive extra allotments of vaccine each week. | Adobe Stock
To get more COVID-19 vaccines out to rural residents, Genesis Medical Center-Aledo is one of nine hospitals scheduled to receive extra allotments of vaccine each week. | Adobe Stock
As part of an effort to get more rural residents vaccinated for COVID-19, Illinois is sending out extra doses of the vaccine to Genesis Medical Center-Aledo and eight other sites in the state.
The Safety Net Direct Vaccine Allocation pilot program is targeting critical access hospitals for extra distribution. The added allocation is expected to be 6,000 each week distributed between the nine hospitals.
"Critical access hospitals are an important partner toward expanding COVID vaccine distribution in West Central Illinois," Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) said in a release. "Genesis Medical Center in Aledo serves the needs of our community well and are an integral piece of the puzzle distributing more vaccines in our region. I am grateful for their involvement."
The program is the second phase in an effort that began in early March with the move to five federally-qualified health centers and four safety-net hospitals receiving vaccine distributions directly from the federal government, the release states.
"Adding nine critical access hospitals across Illinois, to begin receiving additional vaccine allocations is a continuation of our mission to meet communities where they already are," Gov. J.B. Pritzker was quoted as saying in the release. "Rural communities deserve the same protections from this virus that suburban and urban communities get."
Ted Rogalski, administrator with Genesis-Aledo, told WVIK that the hospital was chosen for the program in part due to their successful work so far with vaccinations.
"We have already administered over 6,000 doses to Mercer County residents in a short period of time," Rogalski was quoted as saying by WVIK. "So the state looked at us in having that success and being able [to] handle additional vaccine volume."
Those with Internet access can now self-schedule a vaccination appointment with Genesis-Aledo through the MyGenesis portal, according to the hospital's website. This is in addition to the opening of a mass vaccination clinic in the former Dick's Sporting Goods store on Elmore Avenue in Davenport.
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