80 Illinois Counties Expand Vaccine Eligibility to All Residents

(WTTW News)(WTTW News)

Illinois residents ages 16 and older who live in 80 of the state’s 102 counties are now eligible for the vaccine, state health officials announced Monday.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced March 26 that counties where demand for the vaccine is dropping could inoculate anyone who wanted a dose of the coveted vaccine regardless of their age, health condition or employment.

However, vaccine supplies remain limited in northeastern Illinois and health departments in Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Will and Cook counties as well as Chicago have yet to expand eligibility beyond essential workers and those with qualifying health conditions.

The final decision on vaccine eligibility remains with local health departments, officials said.

Under state rules, all Illinois residents will be eligible to receive the vaccine beginning April 12. 

Every jurisdiction that receives vaccine from the state — which includes all 102 counties — will be instructed to fully open eligibility, officials said.

The Chicago Department of Public Health receives its vaccine supplies directly from the federal government.

State officials continue to recommend that Illinois residents get vaccinated as soon as possible, wear a mask, avoid large crowds and keep 6 feet of distance between them and others to stop COVID-19 from spreading.

Illinois Department of Public Health officials will also send mobile vaccination teams this week to six rural counties — Kankakee, Vermilion, Livingston, Coles, DeWitt and White — to administer 8,000 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to residents ages 18 and older, officials said.

The state’s efforts to vaccinate rural parts of the state has already administered 4,700 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in its first two weeks, officials said.

Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors