More than 3 million Illinois residents are expected to be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the next phase of the state’s launch.
Governor JB Pritzker has said he intends to announce sometime this week when the state will enter Phase 1B, although some areas may already be allowed to do so. However, moving to the next phase will not mean that those eligible in the first phase cannot receive the vaccine.
“I expect to make a formal announcement later this week, when it will be Illinois
will move to phase 1B at the state level, “Pritzker said during his update for coronavirus Monday.” Of course, anyone in Phase 1A who has chosen not to get vaccinated will always be able to opt in during any subsequent round – it’s about not leaving any vaccine on the shelves as we go along. “
Phase 1B will focus on residents aged 65 and over and “essential front-line workers”, including those receiving assistance, education workers such as teachers and support staff, childcare workers, grocery store employees, postal service workers and more.
The age requirement in Illinois is 10 years lower than the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, “to reduce COVID-19 mortality and limit the spread of the community to black and brown communities,” the governor said.
Phase 1B will include approximately 3.2 million people in Illinois, according to the state.
Illinois, as a whole, has administered approximately 334,939 doses of vaccine since Sunday evening.
“We are making significant progress in Phase 1A and I appreciate the hard work of healthcare providers across the country to move through this phase as quickly as possible,” Pritzker said. “In some communities, they even managed to substantially complete phase 1A. IDPH allows any local health department in this position to move into the early stages of Phase 1B, as we want to ensure that any available vaccine is delivered quickly to the priority groups we have established. “
Chicago health officials said Phase 1B is expected to begin in the city in February or March.
“Much depends on how fast the vaccine comes to us,” said Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. “We are getting about 32,000 doses of the first dose of vaccine a week right now. Think about how many people are over 65 – 370,000 – how many essential workers – hundreds of thousands, 150,000, only in education – you will have to be somewhat patient here. But I would expect that we will probably start, you know, between February and March and then continue to get vaccinated, you know, in the next few months. “
Here’s a look at who will be included in Phase 1B:
- Residents over the age of 65
- Frontline essential workers, which means “residents who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to their workloads, often because they cannot work from home and / or have to work closely with others without being able to distance themselves social. This includes:
- First respondents: Fires, law enforcement, 911 workers, security personnel, school officers
- Education: Teachers, principals, student assistance, student aid, day caregiver
- Food and agriculture: Processing, plants, veterinary health, animal husbandry services, animal care
- Manufacturing: Industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale or other products
- Correctional workers and detainees: Prison officers, juvenile facility staff, personal support workers, detainees
- USPS workers
- Public transport workers: Flight crew, bus drivers, train conductors, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, personal assistance, travel sharing services
- Grocery store workers: Baggers, cashiers, stocks, pick-ups, customer service
- Shelters and day care staff: Shelter without shelter, shelter for women, adult / abandonment program, sheltered workshop, psychosocial rehabilitation