COVID-19 Vaccination Plans for Illinois and Our Community

Dear Neighbor,

As health care providers begin rolling out safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19, I wanted to update you on the vaccination plans for Illinois and our community.

Illinois has developed an equity-centric approach to vaccination based on guidelines from doctors and medical professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our state is delivering the vaccine in phases, beginning with people who are the highest risk of mortality and exposure to coronavirus.

In the first phases, Illinois is prioritizing frontline health care workers and residents and staff in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. During this time, seniors and essential workers are also eligible for the vaccine. This includes educators, first responders, child care workers, agriculture workers, corrections workers, grocery store workers, incarcerated individuals, postal workers, public transit workers, and staff at shelters. In future phases, Illinois will focus on other essential workers as well as adults and teenagers with high-risk medical conditions. The final phase will include all Illinois residents.

Vaccinations occur by appointment and as a greater supply of vaccines become available, new vaccination sites are being created all around Illinois. You can find out where vaccinations are given locally by visiting bit.ly/VaccinationLocations.

COVID-19 vaccines are currently available free at the point of service through a partnership with the federal government. You will not be charged a co-pay or face a deductible just for getting a coronavirus vaccination.

You can find out more about vaccine safety and availability by visiting bit.ly/ILVaccineFAQs. If you have other questions about COVID-19, I encourage you to contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931 or dph.sick@illinois.gov. You can also view the latest news about COVID-19 in Illinois by visiting coronavirus.illinois.gov.

If you have any thoughts you’d like to share or if I can be of assistance, please contact my constituent service office at 708-450-1000 or repwelch@emanuelchriswelch.com.

Sincerely,

Emanuel "Chris" Welch

Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives