The COVID-19 vaccine is a critical tool to safely reach the other side of the pandemic and begin Phase 5 of our Restore Illinois plan. Illinois will only distribute a vaccine that's deemed safe. Experts will review vaccines at the state level, in addition to reviews by @US_FDA. 
The @US_FDA is reviewing 2 COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, w/ multiple others in the final stages of evaluation. The @pfizer vaccine recorded a 95% effective rate and is being considered on Dec 10. The @moderna_tx vaccine recorded a 94% rate and is being considered on Dec 17.
The @CDCgov Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has provided an initial set of recommendations on who should receive the first round of available vaccines: Their focus initially is on the nation’s healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
In Illinois, we have 655,000 people who qualify as frontline healthcare workers. And about 110,000 older adults statewide who live in long-term care facilities or assisted living residences. The distribution by @Chicago will operate in tandem with the rest of the state.
If the @pfizer vaccine receives federal approval on Dec 10, Illinois is currently slated to get 109,000 doses of the vaccine between December 13 and 19 — 23,000 to @Chicago and 86,000 to the rest of Illinois. Those numbers will increase over the subsequent weeks and months.
To implement the recommendations of ACIP and the @CDCgov, the first vaccinations will go to hospital and healthcare workers in the 50 counties w/ the highest death rates per capita. The vaccines will be shipped to 10 Regional Hospital Centers to distribute to 50 counties.
Being on the precipice of the first vaccines, just a year after this virus was first detected, is a true testament to the quality of researchers and doctors we have. They deserve our gratitude and our respect.
Now it’s on all of us to keep wearing our masks, keep our distance and find the patience to allow the vaccines to be distributed so we can put this difficult chapter in the history books.
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