Emilio Cici, 42, of Burr Ridge, gets a shot at Rush University Medical Center as part of a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by drugmaker AstraZeneca.

Emilio Cici, 42, of Burr Ridge, gets a shot at Rush University Medical Center as part of a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by drugmaker AstraZeneca.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times file

The race to distribute COVID-19 vaccines

Drug manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca are leading the pack as researchers around the globe are rush to learn more about the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in the hopes of developing a treatment, vaccine and cure for the pandemic virus.

Illinois has been following a phased plan to distribute available COVID-19 vaccine doses since the first vaccine was approved on Dec. 11. So far, the FDA has approved the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, and the one developed by Moderna. 

The state’s distribution plan aligned with federal guidelines for prioritizing healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Governor Pritzker announced on Jan. 6 that the state would break with federal guidelines and begin vaccinating residents over the age of 65. Federal recommendations have since been updated to include people over 65. 

Illinois’ plan contains two phases, which are broken down into sub-phases based on supply and who is eligible for a shot. Phase 1, when there remains a limited supply of doses available, contains sub-phases 1a, 1b, and 1c. 

The first vaccine shipment arrived in Illinois on Dec. 14, and phase 1a began the next day with vaccinations of healthcare workers across the state. 

Phase 1b expands eligibility to residents over the age of 65, along with essential workers such as firefighters, grocery store workers, teachers and inmates. 

Phase 1c, still during the limited supply of vaccines, extends eligibility to people between the ages of 16 and 64 with high-risk health conditions. It also includes additional categories of essential workers.

Once supply increases sufficiently, vaccination will open up to the remaining population of Illinois over the age of 16. Use of COVID-19 vaccines in young children has not yet been approved. 

An outline of the state’s plan, with detailed explanations of who might be eligible in each stage of phase 1, is available here

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October 07, 2020 07:00 AM