If you live or work in Champaign County, and are at least 16 years of age, you are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine regardless of health or employment. Now, how do you find them? There are a few different ways.*
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District clinics
Typically once a week, CUPHD will post links to sign up for vaccination clinics at Meadowbrook Church and the Rantoul Youth Center. They will usually post the sign up links early in the week for clinics later that same week, and they tend to fill up quickly. Lately these have been Moderna clinics, but they’ve also had Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson in the past. The sign up will tell you which kind you’re getting.
CUPHD will also host walk-in clinics from time to time.
Follow CUPHD on Facebook, and change the “follow” setting to “favorites” so that it has priority in your News Feed. You can also follow them on Twitter.
Carle Vaccine Clinic
Carle has an ongoing vaccination site in the former Dress Barn in Kohl’s Plaza. If you have a myCarle or myChristie account, you can make an online appointment that way.
If you don’t have an account, the call the Carle hotline at 217-902-6100. You will also need to do this if you are trying to schedule someone who is 16-17 years old, as they will need to receive a Pfizer vaccine.
If appointments aren’t currently available, you can sign up for a notification.
These are Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
Pharmacies
Walgreens stores in our area add appointments daily, usually for Pfizer or Moderna, and now Walmart has begun to offer Johnson & Johnson vaccines. There’s a handy website called Vaccine Spotter that will show you availability from pharmacies in your area, and the type of shot available.
If you have trouble finding an appointment in Champaign County, there are usually available slots in Danville, Decatur, Monticello, and other towns if you are willing to drive.
Pro tip #1: Select “I am eligible in my county” on the Walgreens site on the eligibility checklist. Since we’re ahead of the game here, the site doesn’t reflect the fact that anyone 16+ can sign up.
Pro tip #2: Walgreens has been scheduling 2nd doses 28 days out regardless of which vaccine you receive.
Promise Healthcare
Call their COVID Care Line at 217-403-5402. You need to be a patient there, or will need to register as a patient there to be vaccinated.
Other options
The Vermillion County Health Department has been opening some clinics to those outside the county. Find the specifications and sign ups here.
Sangamon County has vaccination sites that are open to all. The one at the Illinois State Fairgrounds has Pfizer, so 16 and 17 year olds are eligible there.
*This is based on the most current information we have at time of publishing.
Top photo from CUPHD Facebook page.