CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Gov. JB Pritzker sounded a hopeful note Monday as state officials prepared to distribute the first doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine but stressed it’s the beginning of a long process getting all of Illinois inoculated.
The first half of about 110,000 doses expected this week have arrived, Pritzker said at his latest COVID-19 briefing. Frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents are slated for the first precious doses, which must be stored in ultra-cold conditions before use.
The governor called it “the beginning of the end of this pandemic.” The state’s distribution network will begin shipping vaccine doses to regional-hub hospitals across the state Tuesday and Wednesday, he said. The first shots will be given Tuesday, he said.
“Our destination is clear but the road ahead will be long,” Pritzker said.
The positive news about the vaccine arrival — following the FDA’s emergency approval last week — came Monday as the state Department of Public Health reported 7,214 new confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus, including 103 deaths.
Illinois Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike pleaded with state residents to have patience because it will be awhile before everyone who wants to get vaccinated can get doses.
Chicago will receive its share of vaccine doses directly from the federal government, Pritzker said.
Related
