Giving inmates vaccines ahead of citizens in Groups 1c and Group 2 is disgraceful

The Center for Disease Control Guidelines created categories of population groups to prioritize which citizens would receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Under the guidelines, Group 1a consisted of front-line health care personnel and residents of long term-care facilities. Group 1b consisted of essential front-line workers, including first responders. The Center for Disease Control and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices defined “essential front-line workers” in phrase 1b as those who had “close interaction with the public.” Group 1c consisted of individuals with significant co-morbid conditions and all older adults. Group 2 consisted of individuals with moderate co-morbid conditions or people in homeless shelters.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has deviated from the guidelines and has determined prisoners belong in Group 1b. Prisoners are not essential front-line workers and they do not have close interaction with the public. They have committed crimes that merited their incarceration. Allowing inmates to receive COVID-19 vaccines ahead of law-abiding citizens in Groups 1c and Group 2 is unwarranted and disgraceful. According to statistics from the Illinois Department of Public Health, of all the patients testing positive for the virus, 1.7% of them died. Of all the infected inmates in Illinois, 0.75% died.

The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on our fellow citizens and the amount of available vaccines are small. The governor has asked law-abiding citizens to exercise patience. Law-abiding citizens deserve better. Adults with high-risk medical conditions should not have to wait in line behind criminals to receive their vaccines.

Daniel Locallo, retired Cook County Circuit Court judge

Banana Republicans

America has become a banana republic. And it’s because of banana Republicans.

Daniel Welch, Glen Ellyn

Stooges

When I was growing up, three men were famous for being stooges. Today, as I watch video of the rioters on Jan. 6, I see hundreds, if not thousands, of stooges.

These stooges of today make the stooges of yesterday seem like downright scholars.

Robert Meder, Romeoville

Let the voters decide

I am disturbed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are moving ahead with the impeachment/trial of President Donald Trump. According to the Democrats, they want to make sure he never holds office again. Isn’t that the right of the voters to decide? If the voters want him back or not, is their decision, not theirs.

Terry Cornell, Palos Park