File Photo | Lake County Health Department.

Over 175,000 people — about 25% of Lake County’s population — have signed up online to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the health department.

“There has been incredible interest expressed in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine from those who live and work in Lake County,” the Lake County Health Department said in a statement Thursday.

The Lake County AllVax Portal has 175,550 registered residents. Of those, 1,911 are firefighters or paramedics, 11,264 are healthcare workers, and 15,911 are other essential workers.

“Registering in AllVax is more important now than ever before,” said Jefferson McMillan-Wilhoit, Director of Health Informatics and Technology at the Health Department.

“This portal is designed to shield the public from road bumps on the road to vaccination, but in order to be effective we need everyone to register,” McMillan-Wilhoit said.

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Anyone who lives or works in Lake County can register online on the AllVax Portal for free or by calling the Lake County Health Department at 847-377-8130.

Those who are registered can also schedule their vaccination appointment once they are notified the vaccine is available to them.

The Lake County Health Department is in Phase 1A of vaccinations, which includes healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents.

Phase 1A is to be followed by Phases 1B and 1C as defined by the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Phase 1B, which is expected to begin within the next few weeks, includes all residents who are 65 years old and older and frontline essential workers.

“As we continue to move through these phases of vaccination, being registered in AllVax is critical,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director at the Lake County Health Department.

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“We want to let you know when it is time to get vaccinated, but we can only do so if you are registered. If you have already registered, remind your loved ones, family, and friends in Lake County to do so as well,” Pfister said.

The health department said their goal is to vaccinate at least 80% of Lake County residents.

“Those who register in AllVax will be able to schedule vaccine appointments first, based on CDC and IDPH phasing and prioritization. The longer you wait to register in AllVax, the later you will be notified to receive your vaccine in your eligible phase,” health officials said.