More than 3 million Illinois residents are expected to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the next phase of the state’s launch.
Gov. JB Pritzker said he plans 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 during the first phase will not yet be able to receive the vaccine.
“I look forward to making a formal announcement later this week, when Illinois
will move to phase 1B at the state level, “Pritzker said during his coronavirus update Monday.” Of course, anyone in Phase 1A who has decided not to get vaccinated will always be eligible for any subsequent rounds. without leaving a vaccine sitting on the shelves as we move forward. “
Phase 1B will focus on residents age 65 and older and “essential front-line workers,” including first aid workers, education workers, such as teachers and support staff, daycare workers, employees of grocery stores, postal service workers and more.
The age requirement in Illinois is ten years lower than the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, “in order to reduce mortality from COVID-19 and limit community outreach to black and brown communities,” he said. governor.
Phase 1B will include approximately 3.2 million Illinois residents, according to the state.
Illinois as a whole has administered approximately 334,939 doses of vaccine as of Sunday night.
“We are making significant progress in Phase 1A and I appreciate the hard work of health care providers across the state to move forward as quickly as possible in this phase,” Pritzker said. “In some communities, they have even been able to substantially complete phase 1A. IDPH allows any local health department in this position to move to the early stages of phase 1B because we want to make sure any available vaccine is administered. quickly to the priority groups we have established “.
Chicago health officials said they expect Phase 1B to begin in the city in February or March.
“The thing depends on how quickly the vaccine arrives,” said Commissioner Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. “Right now we get about 32,000 doses of first dose of vaccine a week. Think about how many people there are over 65 – 370,000 – how many essential workers – hundreds of thousands, 150,000, just in education – will have to be patient here. But I hope we will probably start, you know, in the period from February to March, and then continue vaccinating for the next few months.
Here’s a look at who will be included in Phase 1B:
- Residents 65 years or older
- Essential front-line workers, which means “residents who have a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to their work functions, often because they cannot work from home and / or have to work closely with others without being able to distance themselves socially.This includes:
- First responders: Fires, law enforcement, 911 workers, security personnel, school officers
- Education: Teachers, principals, student aid, student aid, daycare
- Food and agriculture: Processing, plants, veterinary health, livestock services, animal care
- Manufacturing: Industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale or other manufactures
- Corrections and interns: Prison agents, juvenile facility staff, in-person support workers, inmates
- USPS workers
- Public transport workers: Flight crew, bus drivers, train drivers, taxi drivers, traffic drivers, personal assistance, travel sharing services
- Grocery store workers: Baggers, ATMs, stockers, collection, customer service
- Hostels and daycare staff: Shelter for homeless people, shelter for women, adult program / start day, sheltered workshop, psychosocial rehabilitation