Will County Health Officials Push for Expanded Vaccine Access, Narcan Distribution

Will County Health Department officials appeared before the Legislative Committee Thursday to advocate for expanding vaccine access and maintaining free distribution of overdose prevention tools.

Assistant Executive Director Denise Bergen and other health department leaders requested support for expanding the Vaccine for Children program to include uninsured and underinsured adults. The department also seeks resources for mobile vaccination services.

“We’d really like to be able to get some sort of mobile bus, some sort of mobile vehicle to be able then to take those services to the people,” explained Cheryl Peard, assistant director of family health services.

The health officials also emphasized the importance of maintaining free distribution of Narcan and drug test strips at the state level, citing significant reductions in overdose deaths.

“The opioid deaths in Will County have almost lessened by more than half – 177%,” reported Diane Scrubz, division director for behavioral health. “But we also know that there’s an increase in methamphetamine and cocaine use which ultimately leads to the risk of fentanyl being laced in these drugs.”

The original stories and this additional one provide comprehensive coverage of the major policy discussions and updates from the meeting while adhering to journalistic standards.