At this week’s COVID vaccination clinic, Rock Island County residents parked outside the TaxSlayer Center, listening to 89.7 FM and waiting for their time slot to be called.
Inside, dozens of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers took temperatures, administered doses of the Moderna vaccine, and monitored patients for allergic reactions.
This week’s clinic was exclusively for those receiving their second dose. Janet Hill from the Rock Island County Health Department, says it takes around one to two weeks after the second dose for immunity to kick in.
"Until we get herd immunity—and that is a long way away, many more months—they need to continue to wear their mask, watch their distance, and wash their hands. They could have a little bit more security, knowing that they are protected, but we don't know a whole lot about whether people can still transmit the virus if they've been vaccinated. So, we do need these public health precautions for the forseeable future."
To date, Hill says no one has needed medical attention after receiving the Moderna vaccine. The location of next week's vaccination clinic is still to be determined.