Orland Park To Host Vaccination Site For Seniors, Educators

ORLAND PARK, IL — The village announced Thursday that it will host a COVID-19 vaccination site next month for seniors and educators. The vaccine will come through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership Program.

Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 1 at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave., registered individuals can get their first dose of the vaccine. The second dose will be administered at the same site three weeks later. According to a release, the village expects to have between 700 and 1,200 Pfizer vaccines available. Transportation will be provided to senior citizens upon request.

Those eligible for vaccines are Orland Park residents who are 65 years of age or older, educators who reside in Orland Park and educators who live elsewhere, but are employed by the Village of Orland Park.

Phone registration began at 9 a.m. Friday, and can be done by calling 708-239-8880. Registrants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis and must provide proof of eligibility and confirm they are available to receive the vaccine on April 1.

"We are pleased to be able to offer this service to Orland Park’s seniors and educators," Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said. "We hear from our senior residents daily about the inability to get vaccines and have tried multiple channels to get vaccine doses to help our residents. We are grateful to be able to make this a reality for Orland Park seniors and educators.”

According to a release, village employees have tried to assist area seniors looking to sign up through the Cook County COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program. However, residents calling for appointments have experienced long delays, busy signals or gotten no response.

"Now we’ve taken it one step further and we are able to offer the vaccination here in Orland Park," Pekau said. "Everyone who wants a vaccine, should be able to receive one. We are just doing our part as community leaders to assist in making this happen."