Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office announced today that it is expanding Phase 1B eligibility for vaccines to include people with co-morbidities and other underlying health conditions in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Pritzker says that the federal government has increased the supply of vaccines by 30 percent in recent weeks, including a five percent increase this week.
The government is set to review the Johnson & Johnson vaccine later this month. Company officials say that their vaccine does not require cold storage and is 100 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths. The White House is also launching a Community Health Center vaccination program that will direct vaccines to additional locations around the country.
The expanded eligibility list will allow people 16 years old and above with the following conditions to receive vaccines:
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Diabetes
- Heart Condition
- Immunocompromised State from a Solid Organ Transplant
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary Disease
- Sickle Cell Disease
To date, the State of Illinois has used more than 78 percent of its vaccine on hand (not including the federal government’s Long-Term Care Vaccination program and the separate supply of the City of Chicago). All three vaccination efforts have together delivered approximately 1.5 million shots, including 1.15 million first doses, to date.
Illinois’ current statewide seven-day rolling case positivity rate is 3.3 percent as of February 10 – the lowest rate since July.
