Illinois plans to expand the list of people eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in phase 1B of its deployment, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday.
The state hopes to increase eligibility from Feb. 25, and will allow people with “high-risk medical illness” or comorbidity to be vaccinated. The list includes people with cancer, diabetes, obesity, pregnant women and those with various conditions.
“In light of a steadily increasing federal supply of vaccines, Illinois is planning to extend Phase 1B eligibility on Feb. 25 to people with comorbidities and underlying conditions, as defined by the CDC,” he said. governor’s office in a statement. “In addition, Illinois will also prioritize people with disabilities.”
The list of high-risk medical conditions that meet the requirements (which may change) includes:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Diabetes
- Heart condition
- Immunocompromised state from a solid organ transplant
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Lung disease
- Sickle cell disease
“Children under the age of 65 who live with comorbidities, such as cancer survivors or those suffering from heart disease, have a high risk of serious complications or death if they contract COVID-19,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Illinois is moving forward with CDC guidelines to expand our eligible population as supply allows, approaching the point where the vaccine is widely available to anyone who wants it. In the meantime, I encourage everyone the people of Illinois to wear masks and follow the mitigations so that more neighbors are healthy and alive when it comes to the vaccination line.
The expansion applies to those over the age of 16 who were not otherwise covered in previous eligibility categories, the state said, adding that it plans to work with local health departments and other providers in as eligibility increases.
According to medical experts from Illinois and the United States, pregnant women were excluded from vaccine trials, so there was little information on vaccine safety for this group.
Earlier this month, White House health adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said there have been no “red flags” on the more than 10,000 pregnant women who have received vaccines so far.
The guide published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that if a woman is part of a group recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and is pregnant, she can choose to be vaccinated. A discussion with your healthcare provider can help you make an informed decision, according to the agency.
There are already more than 3.2 million Illinois residents eligible for vaccination in Phase 1B, which includes people age 65 and older, as well as “essential front-line workers.”
Despite repeated claims by the state that it was struggling to vaccinate those in Phase 1B due to limited supply, Pritzker announced a 5% increase in doses just this week and said that “as soon as we receive enough supply of vaccine, we must not waste time protecting a wider section of our most vulnerable population. “
Still, even as Illinois announced more than 100 new vaccination sites last week, officials continued to call for patience Wednesday, saying the supply of vaccines was limited.
“We are limited by the amount of vaccine available and allocated by the federal government,” the governor’s office said in a statement just before Pritzker’s announcement about eligibility. “Right now, vaccines are only available by appointment and we encourage people to consult open consultations frequently. Until supply increases, there will be a great demand and we ask people to be patient.”
Since Feb. 4, the state said it added 22 local health departments, medical centers and hospitals, along with two new mass vaccination sites and 110 retail pharmacy stores, including Walmart and Meijer locations.
For a full view of where and how you can make an appointment in Illinois or where you can get information about vaccines in your area, click here.