Illinois To Vaccinate People With Health Risks During Phase 1b

ILLINOIS — With Illinois’ supply of coronavirus vaccines expected to grow over the coming weeks, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is planning to expand Phase 1b of the state’s vaccine rollout to include people who have increased health risks.

Many are already eligible to receive a vaccine due to their age or profession, but anyone with underlying conditions will be eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 25, Pritzker said Wednesday.

The expansion of Phase 1b will also include residents who have disabilities, Pritzker said.

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“As quickly as we receive enough vaccine supply, we need to waste no time in protecting them,” Pritzker said.

Vaccine deliveries are expected to “ramp up nationwide,” with federal officials set to send 5 percent more doses to Illinois per week than originally planned, Pritzker said.

High-risk medical conditions to be included under Phase 1b

• Cancer
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Diabetes
• Heart Condition
• Immunocompromised State from a Solid Organ Transplant
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary Disease
• Sickle Cell Disease

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More than 327,000 people in Illinois were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Tuesday after receiving both doses, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health. That represents about 2.57 percent of the state's 12.7 million residents.

Nearly 63,000 vaccines were administered Tuesday, taking the state's total to almost 1.5 million doses, public health data shows.