The first COVID vaccines are arriving at McLean County’s long-term care facilities at the deadliest time of the pandemic.
December was the deadliest month of the McLean County pandemic, with 51 deaths. Of these people, 31 were associated with long-term care, such as nursing homes.
There were 13 active outbreaks in long-term care facilities in McLean County on Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. At least 43 deaths were attributed to these 13 outbreaks alone. (IDPH defines an “active” outbreak as one with cases in the past 28 days.)
The most deadly outbreaks, according to IDPH, occurred in:
- Heritage Health of Normal, 11 deaths and 104 cases during the current active outbreak.
- McLean County nursing home, 11 deaths and 82 cases during the current active outbreak.
- Bloomington Health and Rehabilitation Center, 11 deaths and 59 cases. This outbreak happened in May and is now over.
The outbreak in McLean County’s nursing home is notable because it is a government-owned facility. It had about 80 residents in early December, mostly those on Medicaid.
The situation worsened last month. In early December, there were only 18 cases and zero deaths. Employees are being tested for COVID-19 every week.
Like other long-term care facilities, the McLean County nursing home is expected to receive its first doses of the COVID vaccine soon. This will happen through a federal program in partnership with CVS and Walgreens. That program began distributing the vaccine on December 28, although it is unclear how many doses were administered in the first week.
“We are working closely with Walgreens for the vaccine, but it is currently unclear when we will actually get it,” said Terri Edens, manager of the McLean County nursing home, in a report to the Health Committee of the McLean County Council before January 4 meeting.
About half of COVID deaths across the state were linked to long-term care facilities. In McLean County, there were 66 of 101 deaths, or 65%.
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