SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike Friday announced a two-week extension of vaccination requirements for individuals in high-risk settings.
All healthcare workers, P-12 teachers and staff, and higher education personnel and students will now be required to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 19, 2021.
The extended deadline came at the request of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA), as well as education leaders including the Illinois Education Association (IEA), Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), and Illinois Principals Association (IPA).
“While hospitals and schools move forward in good faith, this extension ensures they are prepared to meet this requirement to better protect our most vulnerable residents and children who are not yet eligible to get vaccinated,” said Pritzker.
On Aug. 26, 2021, Pritzker announced that all healthcare workers, P-12 teachers and staff, higher education personnel and students would be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to regular testing requirements.
The extension will also allow for more time to put additional testing protocols in place, given that individuals who are unable or unwilling to receive the vaccine are required to get tested for COVID-19 at least once per week.
As of today, 8.4 million Illinoisans, 66.2%, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 6.5 million are fully vaccinated , or 51.4%.
