Gov. JB Pritzker plans to relax his statewide mask mandate after federal health officials said Thursday mask-wearing is not necessary in most places for people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
That announcement on Friday from the Illinois Department of Public Health didn’t say when or how the governor’s executive orders would be changed after new guidance issued Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Springfield officials said they would stop enforcing the city s mask mandate in light of the CDC and state s position. Springfield s mask mandate was implemented in 2020 and came with potential fines for individuals and businesses.
Vaccinations for adolescents ages 12-15 could begin as soon as Thursday, following FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for that age group.
The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Sangamon County Department of Public Health are awaiting the final go-ahead from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices before opening up the vaccinations. ACIP will meet Wednesday to discuss recommendations for authorization.
Jeff Wilhite, spokesperson for SCDPH, said that if all goes well, the young teens will be eligible to sign up at scdph.org or walk into a vaccination clinic. They must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when receiving the vaccine.
The state of Illinois will open up vaccinations to 12-15 year olds Thursday, following approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to distribute the Pfizer vaccine to that age group.
Vaccination sites across Illinois can begin providing the vaccine to the adolescents with sign up commencing Wednesday afternoon. Memorial Health System and CVS also announced Wednesday that they would begin distribution at their sites Thursday, with appointments and walk-ins accepted.
Those seeking to receive the vaccine at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health s site in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds can sign up at scdph.org or call (217) 210-8801. Walk-ins will also be accepted.