Vaccine Eligibility Opens Up To More Lake Co. Residents

Grayslake IL

22 March, 2021

2:26 PM

Description

LAKE COUNTY, IL — In three weeks, eligibility for vaccinations will open up to most Lake County residents. Meanwhile, the number of vaccines doled out daily has jumped by 58 percent in the past month here as more shots become available and more mass vaccination sites open up. Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced vaccines could be given to all Illinois residents over the age of 16 years old starting on April 12. For now, though, vaccines are being doled out to residents meeting certain eligibility requirements set up by the state of Illinois. Starting on March 22, the state expanded Phase 1b Plus to higher education staff, government workers and members of the media, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday. On March 29, the state will add restaurant staff, construction workers and religious leaders to the list. The eligibility requirements differ for the city of Chicago. Where To Sign Up For The Coronavirus Vaccine In IllinoisCOVID-19 Vaccine Registration Available For Lake Co. Residents As of Monday, 4.748 million vaccines have been doled out across the state and 13.9 percent of the state's population is fully vaccinated. In Lake County, 11.79 percent of residents have been fully vaccinated with 230,838 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine doled out so far. Vaccine rollout started slow in Illinois, with winter weather delaying shipments and frustrations mounting in the face of limited supply, but that seems to be changing as vaccine eligibility expands and more mass vaccination sites open. In Lake County, the number of vaccines doled out daily has jumped by nearly 58 percent in the past month. As of Monday, the seven-day rolling average for the daily number of vaccines being administered was 4,518. A month earlier, that number stood at 2,856, according to public health data. Who is eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine? Phase 1a (statewide) Health care workersResidents and staff in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities Phase 1b (statewide) Anyone age 65 or olderFrontline essential workers, including:first reponders (fire, law enforcement, 911 workers, security personnel, school officers)Education (teachers, school administrators and other school support staff, day care workers)Food and agriculture (workers in processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services and animal care)Manufacturing (Workers involved in the industrial production of goods)Corrections workers and prisoners (correctional officers and prison staff, incarcerated individuals)U.S. Postal Service workersPublic transit workers (flight crew, bus drivers, train conductors, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, in-person support, ride-sharing service drivers)Grocery store workers (baggers, cashiers, stockers, pickup and customer service personnel)Shelter and adult day care staff (Workers in homeless shelters, women's shelters, adult day/drop-in programs and sheltered workshops) Phase 1b Plus (except in Chicago) Anyone with a medical condition that puts them at increased risk for the coronavirus disease, including:ObesityDiabetesPulmonary diseasesSmokingHeart conditionsChronic kidney diseaseCancerSolid Organ TransplantSickle Cell DiseasePregnancyAny physical, developmental, visual, hearing or mental disability not covered in previous categoriesHigher education faculty and staff (starting March 22)Government workers (starting March 22)Media (starting March 22)Restaurant staff (starting March 29)Construction and trade workers (starting March 29)Religious leaders (starting March 29) Phase 1c (starting March 29 in Chicago, but the rest of Illinois is skipping this phase)All essential workers, including: Clergy and staff for religious organizationsEmployees of banks, credit unions, title companies, and other financial services workersRestaurant and bar workersFaculty and staff of colleges, universities, tech schools, trade schools and other higher education workersInformation technology workersJudges, lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, bail bond agents, parole and probation officers and other legal workersJournalists, broadcasters, book publishers, librarians, and other media workersPersonal care and hygiene workersPublic safety workers, including civil engineers, chemical engineers, aerospace engineers, road workers, longshoremen and cybersecurity workersRetail workersHotel and motel workers, real estate agents, construction and maintenance workersGas station workers, bike supply and repair workers, delivery drivers, couriers, warehouse workers, mail carriers, bus drivers and other transportation and logistics workersWastewater treatment workers, sanitary and storm maintenance crews Phase 2 (Starting April 12 in most of Illinois and expected to start May 1 in Chicago) Everyone age 16 and older MORE ON PATCH Lake Co. Mass Vaccination Site Opens Up To 65, Older This WeekOver Half Of Lake County Seniors Have Gotten A COVID-19175K Lake County Residents Register For COVID-19 VaccineOver 12,000 Lake County Residents Receive Coronavirus VaccineMayor Shares Frustration With COVID-19 Vaccination ProcessLake Co. Doles Out 17K Covid Shots To Teachers, Daycare Workers