Tinley Park Convention Center Mass Vaccine Site To Close

TINLEY PARK, IL — The mass vaccination center at the Tinley Park Convention Center will cease operations on Thursday, according to the village of Tinley Park.

The Tinley Park Convention Center vaccine site — located at 18451 Convention Center Drive — will close its doors at 11:30 a.m., Thursday. The site is currently taking walk-ins and is offering Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Those interested in getting a vaccine just have to show up with a photo ID and register onsite.

The Convention Center was the first mass vaccination site to open its doors in Illinois, on Jan. 26. When opened, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and other elected officials stated that shots would be administered by the Illinois National Guard, with about 9,000 vaccines to be dispensed weekly. Pritzker's initial goal was to administer approximately 18,000 doses per week, once the federal government ramped up vaccine distribution.

IT'S FREE: Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Tinley Park Patch newsletters and real-time email alerts.

Currently, all Cook County residents ages 12 or older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Children under 18 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian upon inoculation. Cook County Health states that vaccinations are free, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

As of Wednesday, 9,298,931 doses have been administered in Illinois. Since the start of the pandemic, Cook County has reported 248,680 COVID-19 cases, and 4,383 have died. The county is continuing to see a decrease in case positivity.

Recently, and in accordance with CDC and Illinois guidelines, the Tinley Park has lifted the mask mandate it imposed aimed to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Tinley Park residents who have been fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear a face covering in places that do not enforce it in town.

"In order to prioritize the health and safety of their employees and customers, businesses may choose to enforce stricter measures and may continue to require face coverings and social distancing, even for vaccinated individuals," the village said in a statement.

Those who received the shot are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving either the two-dose series from Pfizer or Moderna, or the single-shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

See more information about the vaccine, vaccine distribution, places to receive it and find answers to questions on the Cook County Health Website.

Related:

First Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Site Opens In Tinley Park | Tinley Park, IL Patch

Sixth Mass Vaccination Site Opens In Matteson | Oak Forest, IL Patch