Kankakee Times

A limited amount of COVID-19 vaccines will be allocated to Kankakee County using a phased approach that prioritizes select groups until the vaccine supply increases.

Health care workers and individuals who live in long-term care facilities will be the first to have access to the vaccine, according to a statement released by the county.

Essential workers who are crucial for the functioning of society will be the second group to voluntarily receive vaccinations.  

This group consists of people who work in law enforcement and fire rescue, and employees in the education, agriculture, utilities, corrections, and transportation industries, according to the county.

Adults over the age of 65 and adults with high risk medical conditions such as obesity, heart conditions, cancer, or diabetes will be the third group to be vaccinated.  

The last two groups to have access to the vaccine will be adults aged 31 and over that work in hotels or restaurants or similar occupations where there is risk of exposure to coronavirus and young adults aged 18-30.

If a pediatric vaccine becomes available, children aged 18 years and under will be vaccinated last, according to a statement released by the county.

The vaccine will be administered in the next few weeks using guidelines established by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, according to a county press release.

Community members can not add their names to a waiting list or schedule an appointment to be vaccinated by the health department at this time, and the Department of Health asks that residents refrain from calling them about vaccination updates, as they will post all vaccine-related information on their social media platforms and various media outlets.