Illinois National Guard helps administer COVID vaccines at ISU

Posted on March 25, 2021

*The Bone Student Center is one of several mobile vaccine sites throughout McLean county.(Facebook/Illinois State University)*

NORMAL – 18 Illinois National Guardsmen and women made their way to Illinois State University on Thursday to help give hundreds of vaccines to faculty, health staff and others who are eligible.

“They’re from all over – all over the county, all over the state,” county liaison Melanie Crays said. “I’m fortunate that I’m actually from this area. So it is very unique to me to be able to be of service to my own community.”

For now the site will run each Thursday at the Bone Student Center as the Guard continues to give shots to eligible residents.

Illinois State alum Major General Richard Neely visited Thursday to meet with National Guard troops who are partnering with the McLean County Health Department to operate a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on campus. (Facebook/Illinois State University)

Major General Richard Neely — a former Redbird — says the Guard and medics will eventually help where they are needed throughout McLean county.

“The important part about our mission is we are linked with the local health departments,” Neely said. “The National Guard brings extra hands, extra feet, extra support to these missions.”

The vaccination site at ISU has been running since January, but with limited doses and staff.

Neely says now with the National Guard on hand, things are going to ramp up.

“We are estimating that if everything goes correctly – having enough people and vaccinations – it’ll be an increase here in McLean County of about 1,000 additional vaccines a day,” Neely said.

The Bone Student Center is one of several mobile vaccine sites throughout McLean county.

Public health experts say these sites could combine to give more than 20,000 shots per week.

To book an appointment, visit coronavirus.illinoisstate.edu/health-support/vaccination.

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