Thread by @BauerJournalism

Gov. JB Pritzker will give a COVID-19 update at 9:30 a.m.

I'll live tweet. Follow for updates and let me know if you have questions.

blockclubchicago.org/2021/10/19/mas…

Pritzker says they'll be talking about COVID-19 boosters.

"If you are eligible for a booster shot, please go get one."

Pritzker: Most American adults who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be eligible to get a booster shot in the coming weeks and months.

Pritzker: If you got a J&J shot in the spring, or any time before late August, you'll be able to go and get a second shot as soon as the end of this week.

If you have a primary doc, you can make an appointment to get a free booster.

Pritzker: "We all take booster shots already for the flu, for the whooping cough, for tetanus. For COVID-19, it's no different. Booster shots are already a normal part of modern medicine."

Pritzker: "Boosters will extend that life-saving protection."

Pritzker: Veterans homes leaders are prepped and ready to bring booster shots into every home as soon as they're eligible.

Pritzker: IDPH is making contact with long-term care facilities across the state to make sure they have clinics in the works for boosters.

Pritzker: Mobile vaccination teams have done over 4,000 vaccination events to date and are ready to assist any facility that doesn't already have a booster plan in place.

Pritzker: They're calling on skilled nursing facilities to make boosters available to all resident sand staff before Thanksgiving.

Pritzker: "Choosing not to get vaccinated can be deadly. From June through September of 2021, approximately 90,000 COVID-19 deaths among U.S. adults likely would have been prevented if they had chosen to get vaccinated. 90,000. It doesn't have to be this way."

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health: "It's fall again and we saw last fall, last year, the devastating impact that COVID-19 had in our long-term care facilities. We saw it here in Illinois. We saw it across the country. ... We as Illinoisans will ...

"not stand idly by and relive the tragedy that we saw, especially when we have a powerful tool that will prevent those hospitalizations and deaths in our beloved family members and long-term care facilities. We do know that advanced age is one of the most significant risk ...

"factors in breakthrough hospitalizations and deaths, which is exactly why booster shots are being recommended for everyone 65 and older, as well as all people living in long-term care facilities."

Ezike: Our work address and alleviate concerns in minority groups about vaccination continues.

Ezike: Only Pfizer has been authorized for booster doses, but we expect CDC will move forward with the FDA's recommendation for boosters for Moderna and J&J in the next few days.

Ezike: IDPH is currently working on additional training for COVID-19 vaccine providers that will cover booster doses by type, as well as planning for upcoming vaccination for kids younger than 12.

Ezike: FDA's advisory committee slated to meet next week on vaccinations for kids younger than 12.

"Look forward to more information on how to get your child vaccinated in Illinois in the coming weeks."

Ezike: When getting a booster, you don't have to go to the same place as you got your initial shot(s). But you should bring your vaccine card.

Ezike: Don't forget to get your flu shot. Flu season is upon us.

Ezike: There's an NAH study that says there may be a benefit from mixing and matching vaccines. But for now, we're following official CDC recommendations. We don't have a decision on mix-and-match as of today.

Pritzker: We have offered to any municipality that asks the ability to request state police. In the event of serious emergency, there's the National Guard.

Pritzker: We have about 1,900 state troopers for Illinois and 57,000 square miles. "We have deployed hundreds when asked, when needed; and we would continue to do so." But there are responsibilities everywhere in the state.

Pritzker on mask mandate: "We're continuing, again, to watch the numbers. ... I think you've seen that although numbers have come down ... . I want them to go away, too. But we want to make sure that we're keeping people healthy and safe, following the guidelines that doctors ...

"are offering for us. So we'll continue to do that. Obviously, we want to remove the mitigations as we approach the holidays. ... We want to make sure these numbers keep going down." ...

People spend extended amounts of time together at Thanksgiving/Christmas, so we want to get to a place where we can remove mask mandates.

Press conference over.