CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Starting Monday, more Illinois residents are eligible for the COVID vaccine.
Those who work in higher education staff, government workers, and media are now eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine at the more than 900 location in the state’s provider network.
Governor Pritzker made the announcement Friday, as the state expects to receive at lease one million doses weekly come April.
Food and beverage workers, construction trade workers, and religious leaders will be eligible to receive the vaccine starting March 29, before the state opens up vaccine eligibility to anyone over the age of 16 on April 12.
“Before Illinois expands eligibility to all residents 16 years and older on April 12, I’m proud to announce expanded eligibility for additional groups of more vulnerable populations. With weekly shipments to Illinois surpassing one million doses in April, we are on track to save lives and bring this pandemic to an end," Pritzker said.
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Eligible Groups:
• Beginning Dec. 15, healthcare workers and long-term care facility staff and residents (Phase 1A)
• Beginning Jan. 25, frontline essential workers (including first responders, K-12 teachers, and other public-facing industries) and residents age 65 and up (Phase 1B)
• Beginning Feb, 25, residents with high-risk conditions or disabilities, age 16 and up (Phase 1B+)
• Beginning March 22, higher education staff, government workers, and media
• Beginning March 29, restaurant staff, construction trade workers, and religious leaders
• Beginning April 12, any resident age 16 and up
And although Illinois expects to receive about a million doses a week, Governor Pritzker said "making an appointment to receive a shot may take time."
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Additionally, suburban Cook County expanded Monday to Phase 1B+, which includes anyone 16 and older with underlying conditions.
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The City of Chicago, however, is different.
Since Chicago receives its own federal supply of vaccines, it will expand vaccine eligibility to the same group (Phase 1B+) starting March 29.
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