Fact check: Did Government JB Pritzker prioritize inmates, police officers and colleagues for coronavirus vaccination?

Illinois’ entry into the second phase of its COVID-19 vaccination plan means many more residents are eligible, but not everyone agrees that the state prioritizes the right groups as the demand for vaccine still exceeds the supply.

In an image shared on Facebook and Twitter, the Republican Party in Illinois said that Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Hierarchy of Vaccination Priorities” places inmates, politicians and university students in Phase 1B – the current Vaccination Phase – “high-risk individuals and everyone else.”

As in other states, Illinois’ vaccination plan is based on federal guidelines, but states are not expected to apply the non-binding guidance uniformly.

Therefore, we decided to look at the groups that, according to GOP, are now eligible in Illinois. State legislators and prisoners are now eligible, but university students are not.

Prisoners and lawmakers can receive the vaccine

Along with people aged 65 and older and essential workers in the front line, inmates are part of Illinois’ second vaccination phase, which began on January 25th.

Pritzker is no apostate about this.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides vaccines to inmates, and at least 13 other states have included the group in their first two vaccination phases, according to a comparison of the Kaiser Family Foundation’s state priority plans.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states may choose to include individuals living in community facilities – including prisons or prisons – at the same time as frontline staff because of the increased risk of spreading in such nearby areas.

On February 3, Pritzker’s administration also added Illinois lawmakers to Phase 1B following requests from some members of the General Assembly. The requests come after several people tested positive for the coronavirus during the House’s crippling session at the Bank of Springfield Center in January. Both the State House and the Senate have canceled the session days scheduled for February.

Justin L. Fowler / The State Journal-Register via AP File

State legislatures in Colorado, Hawaii and Maryland are also being vaccinated in the second phase. Members of Congress have been receiving vaccines since their distribution began.

Individuals with health risks from 16 to 64 years who are not essential workers are still not eligible. Pritzker recently announced that the group will be added on February 25, making Illinois the 18th state to include them in their first two phases, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation comparison. Chicago and suburban Cook County, which receive doses separately from the federal government, chose the extension because of the shortage of supply.

According to CDC guidelines, people under the age of 65 with high-risk medical conditions do not need to be prioritized until the next phase of admission, phase 1C. This means that the state remains in line with federal leadership.

College students usually do not qualify

There is nothing in the Illinois vaccination plan that can qualify college students as a group.

A spokesman for the Illinois Republican Party said the allegation that college students are currently qualifying for vaccinations is based on a WCIA TV report showing a student receiving the vaccine at the I Hotel Conference Center in Champaign.

Scott P. Yates / Rockford Register Star via AP File

The report also identifies her as a medical student, who according to the Champaign-Urbana district for public health prefers her to another eligible group – health workers.

Spokesmen for the Illinois Department of Public Health and the governor’s office have confirmed that university students who do not work in health care or another position being treated in the current phases do not qualify.

Our verdict

The Illinois Republican Party says ‘Pritzker’s Hierarchy of Vaccine Priorities’ puts inmates, politicians and college students in Phase 1B, ahead of ‘high-risk individuals health factors and everyone else.’

It’s true that inmates and legislators are currently eligible for vaccinations, and those under the age of 65 and others who are not frontline workers do not – including people with underlying health risks.

But it is not true that university students are eligible. Students may only receive the vaccine if they meet other qualifying criteria.

The post of the IDP also ignores how the Pritzker administration’s priority plan for inmates and those with high-risk medical conditions aligns with federal guidance.

We judge it half true.

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HALF TRUE – The statement is partially accurate, but omits important details or takes things out of context.

click here for more about the six PolitiFact ratings and how we choose facts to check.

The Better Government Association runs PolitiFact Illinois, the local arm of the nationally known, Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking enterprise that testifies to the truth of statements by government leaders and politicians. BGA’s fact-checking service has partnered with the Sun-Times on a weekly basis, in print and online. You can find everything the PolitiFact Illinois stories we reported here together.

Sources

Facebook post, Illinois Republican Party, February 5, 2021

Tweet, Illinois Republican Party, February 5, 2021

Phase 1B, Illinois Department of Public Health

Press Release, Federal Bureau of Prisons, January 16, 2021

State COVID-19 Populations for Vaccine Priorities, Kaiser Family Foundation, February 8, 2021

Consideration for Phase Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Visited February 10, 2021

” Welcome step ‘or’ ridiculous’? State legislators have divorced over the decision to move them into the COVID-19 vaccine line, ”Chicago Sun-Times, February 3, 2021

“Legislators, Legislative Journalists in Colorado, Get Early Access to the COVID-19 Vaccine,” Denver Post, January 30, 2021

“State Legislators, Legislators Get COVID-19 Vaccine as Essential Workers,” Hawaii News Now, January 28, 2021

“Maryland Lawmakers Access to Coronavirus Vaccine in Annapolis,” The Baltimore Sun, January 29, 2021

“Members of Congress to get COVID-19 vaccine in first round, says doctor,” Reuters, December 17, 2020

“Everyone with underlying conditions to be eligible for a vaccine soon: ‘We need not waste any time protecting it’,” Chicago Sun-Times, February 11, 2021

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Updated Interim Recommendation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 22, 2020

COVID-19 Vaccination Planning Guide, Illinois Department of Public Health, Visited February 10, 2021

Email: Joe Hackler, Spokesman for the Republican Party of Illinois, February 8, 2021

“Pritzker: State Legislators Move Into Phase 1B of Vaccination Plan,” WCIA, February 3, 2021

Email: Awais Vaid, Deputy Administrator and Epidemiologist at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, February 10, 2021

Email: Melaney Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Spokeswoman, February 9-10, 2021

Email: Jordan Abudayyeh, Spokesman for Governor Pritzker, February 9, 2021