Illinois is set to expand the list of people eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations in Phase 1B of its launch, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday.
The state hopes to increase eligibility starting February 25, allowing people with “a high-risk medical condition” or comorbidity to be vaccinated. The list includes people with cancer, diabetes, obesity, pregnant women and people with several other illnesses.
“In light of an increasing federal supply of vaccines, Illinois is making plans to expand Phase 1B eligibility on February 25 for people with CDC-defined underlying conditions and comorbidities,” the governor’s office said in a statement. “In addition, Illinois will also prioritize individuals with disabilities.”
The list of qualified high-risk medical conditions (which is subject to change) includes:
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Diabetes
- Cardiac Condition
- Immunocompromised state of a solid organ transplant
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Lung disease
- Sickle cell anemia
“Those who are under 65 and living with comorbidities, such as cancer survivors or those living with heart disease, are at an increased risk of serious complications or death if they contract COVID-19,” said Pritzker in a statement. “Illinois is advancing according to the CDC’s guidance to expand our eligible population as the offer allows, bringing us closer to the point where the vaccine is widely available to everyone who wants it. In the meantime, I encourage all Illinois residents to wear our masks and follow mitigating measures so that more of our neighbors are healthy and alive when it is their turn to get vaccinated. “
The expansion applies to those aged 16 and over who were not covered by previous eligibility categories, the state said, adding that it plans to work with local health departments and other providers as eligibility increases.
According to medical experts in Illinois and the United States, pregnant women were excluded from vaccine testing, so there was little information about vaccine safety for this group.
Earlier this month, White House health consultant Dr. Anthony Fauci said “no warning signs” were seen in the more than 10,000 pregnant women who have received vaccines so far.
The guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that if a woman is part of a group recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and is pregnant, she may choose to be vaccinated. A discussion with your healthcare provider can help you make an informed decision, the agency said.
Already, more than 3.2 million Illinois residents are eligible for vaccination under Phase 1B, which includes people aged 65 and over, as well as “essential frontline workers”.
Despite repeated claims that the state was struggling to vaccinate those in Phase 1B due to limited supply, Pritzker announced a 5% dose increase just this week, saying “as soon as we get enough vaccine supplies, we don’t need to waste time to protect a wider section of our most vulnerable population. “
Still, even when Illinois announced more than 100 new vaccination sites last week, officials continued to ask for patience on Wednesday, saying the vaccine supply was limited.
“We are limited by the amount of vaccine available and allocated by the federal government,” the governor’s office said in a statement ahead of Pritzker’s announcement of eligibility. “Vaccines are only available by appointment at this time and we encourage people to come back frequently to see if there are any open appointments. Until the supply is increased, there will be great demand and we ask people to be patient ”.
Since February 4, the state has said it has added 22 local health departments, medical centers and hospitals, as well as two new mass vaccination sites and 110 retail pharmacy stores, including Walmart and Meijer.
For a complete view of where and how you can make an appointment in Illinois or where you can receive vaccine information for your area, click here.