New Forest Park Vaccination Site Opens To All Illinoisans Friday

ILLINOIS — A new mass vaccination site in Forest Park will be open to all Illinoisans, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday. The Illinois National Guard will begin giving shots in the former HOBO store on Friday, adding to more than half a million vaccinations already administered by Guardsmen across the state.

Officials hope the new site, along with recent additions at South Suburban College, Tinley Park Convention Center, Triton College and the former Des Plaines K-Mart, should make it easier for Illinoisans to get a shot in the coming weeks.

“Since day one, our Illinois COVID-19 Vaccination Plan has been an all-hands-on-deck effort, and as the national supply has expanded, so too has the number of locations Illinoisans can get vaccinated,” the governor said in a statement. “With this location in Forest Park, we have now strategically established three of our largest mass vaccination sites – open to all Illinoisans – at Tinley Park in the southwest, this new site in the western suburbs, and Des Plaines in the northwest, meaning that our highest density Cook and Collar Counties communities all have a convenient state-supported option for getting vaccinated."

Pritzker thanked the Illinois National Guard and health care professionals across the state, siting their "amazing progress" toward opening up vaccinations to all adults starting April 12.

RELATED: Where To Sign Up For The Coronavirus Vaccine In Illinois

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, a Hillside Democrat, said the new vaccination site would ensure community members of all races have access to the life-saving shot.

"It is critical that we move as quickly as possible to allow our most vulnerable residents to get vaccinated to defend themselves against the virus," she said. "There is no other pathway to getting families back together and our lives back to normal than ensuring Illinois residents get the opportunity to be vaccinated."

State health officials said they are coordinating with state and local health departments, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard to identify more locations for vaccine clinics in the weeks ahead of the April 12 expansion of eligibility to anyone over 16 years of age. As of today, anyone in Phase 1a, 1b or 1b plus, including higher education staff and media personnel, can get shots at multiple sites in Sangamon, Jackson, Winnebago, Madison, St. Clair, Adams, Kane, DuPage, and Cook Counties.

"Getting as many people to trust and believe in the vaccine's power is important and half of the battle. Illinois must have trusted partners like Pastor Winston and his team," said Representative LaShawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat. "The Governor should be commended for bringing this site to Forest Park, and I will work with the team to get the word out about the availability of this life-saving shot in the arm."

Over the weekend, the state National Guard surpassed 500,000 shots given out at more than 39 vaccination sites across the state. More than 1,400 Guard troops working in 86 teams took part in the effort, officials said.

"It has been a historic year for the Illinois National Guard and I could not be more proud of the Soldiers and Airmen who have answered the call to duty," said Illinois National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Rich Neely. "We are also grateful to the Guard service members’ and support of the families, employers, and universities and colleges. Without their understanding and flexibility it would be very difficult for our troops to serve their communities, state and nation."

In addition to state mass vaccination sites, the National Guard is also running equity-focuses vaccine programs in partnership with local health departments in Cook, Lake, DeKalb, McHenry, St. Clair, Jackson, Sangamon, Madison, Winnebago, Rock Island, McLean, Grundy and Vermilion counties and the Southern Seven Health Department. The Guard is working in Lake, Vermilion, McLean, Rock Island, DeKalb and Grundy counties to improve local vaccination rates, and has established one-stop, single-shot Johnson & Johnson rural vaccination clinics to reduce travel and time barriers for rural residents.

The rural Vaccination Program will visit five counties this week, providing shots to about 2,700 people, state health officials said.

Rural Vaccination Pilot Program dates:

• March 22: Oil Belt Christian Service Camp, Clay County
• March 24: Edwards County — Appointments are booked through Wabash County Health Dept. at 618-263-3873
• March 25: Lawrence County, Central Christian Church — call 812-213-0199
• March 26: Cumberland County, Toledo Christian Church — call 217-849-3211, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• March 27: Edgar County, Paris Cooperative High School — register online or call 217-294-2729
• March 29-30: Stephenson County, Highland Community College — register online or call 815-599-8412

In all, there are now more than 900 public vaccination sites across Illinois, including local hospitals, pharmacies and county health departments. For help making an appointment, call the state Vaccine Appointment Call Center at 1-833-621-1284. The call center is available from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Agents will help callers navigate online registration sites or make an appointment on the caller's behalf if they are unable to get online.