(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois state government is making plans to help vaccinate children against COVID-19, with the expected federal approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.
Illinois anticipates receiving about 306,000 doses for the state’s youngest residents, with an additional 73,000 doses for the city of Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday.
When approval is official from the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2,200 locations and providers across Illinois are enrolled to provide the vaccine.
“We are likely just days away from having the COVID-19 vaccine available for 1.1 million more Illinois children, ages 5 to 11,” Pritzker said in a news release. “As soon as the FDA and the CDC have signed off, these kid-sized doses and kid-sized needles will be shipped out to pharmacies, pediatricians and other providers across Illinois.”
The governor advised parents to contact their pediatrician’s office to make sure they will have doses.
The Pritzker administration is coordinating with federally qualified health centers, local health departments and family practitioners to make distribution equitable, the governor’s office said.
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