Illinois expects to receive an initial shipment of 500,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine once it receives federal approval for use in children ages 5 to 11 years old, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday.[Health News Illinois 10.26.2021] 

"Thanks to scientists and doctors who've worked tirelessly for the last year, we are likely just days away from having the COVID-19 vaccine available for 1.1 million more Illinois children, ages 5 to 11," Pritzker said at a Chicago press conference. "As soon as the (Food and Drug Administration) and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have signed off, these kid-sized doses and kid-sized needles will be shipped out to pharmacies, pediatricians and other providers across Illinois.”

Nearly 306,000 of the initial doses will go to the state, 73,000 will go to the city of Chicago and over 100,000 will head to the federal government’s pharmacy partners.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has started to enroll pediatric offices to provide COVID-19 shots, with over 2,200 locations and providers already enrolled to provide doses to eligible children. The agency is also working with federally qualified health centers, local health departments and family practitioners to ensure equitable access to vaccines.

“I am urging every single parent or guardian to do this for their child, make a plan to get them vaccinated for COVID-19,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

IDPH reported 1,565 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Monday.

The new cases bring the state’s total to 1,686,048, while the death toll is 25,648.

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