COVID-19 vaccination site opens at civic center

The Carbondale Civic Center will serve as a COVID-19 mass vaccination site beginning today, Feb. 19.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday that two locations in Carbondale would operate as mass vaccination sites: the Banterra Center on the SIU campus and the civic center in downtown Carbondale. Pritzker's office anticipates the civic center location could administer up to 540 doses of the vaccine per day.

"It is an honor for the city of Carbondale to assist the state of Illinois, Illinois National Guard and Jackson County Health Department in expanding COVID-19 vaccinations. The teamwork it took to make this happen was inspiring to see, and we feel privileged to provide our residents with an easily accessible vaccination clinic location," Mayor Mike Henry said in a news release announcing the arrangement.

The civic center vaccination site will serve those in 1a and 1b by appointment only. To make an appointment at either Carbondale location, visit the Jackson County Health Department's website. There is no charge to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.