The Tinley Park Convention Center is now open as a coronavirus mass vaccination site in Illinois, state officials announced.
The center, located in 18451 Convention Center Drive, opened Tuesday, according to Illinois Government JB Pritzker, as a mass vaccination site in Illinois in Cook County.
Pritzker, along with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, toured the new website on Monday as the state entered phase 1B of its vaccine analysis, which opened up doses to millions of residents.
“Widespread vaccination sites will enable us to get these life-saving vaccine doses to Illinois quickly and efficiently as more federal vaccines come online,” Pritzker said in a statement. “The Illinois National Guard and the Illinois Department of Public Health are proud to partner with Cook County to launch the Tinley Park Convention Center Vaccination Site – our seventh collaboration in Cook County as a whole, with many more in the state. “
According to the town of Tinley Park, appointments are needed, which said that appointments can only be made through the websites of the state and the province. They can be scheduled via Cook County’s newly launched vaccine website, or by calling (833) 308-1988.
Click here for a full look at making an appointment or receiving information about your vaccine.
“This first large site in the South is an indication of our commitment to distribute vaccine fairly, but we fully expect that demand will soon exceed supply,” said Israel Rocha, CEO of Cook County Health, in a statement. statement said. “It’s critical for people. to understand that, although all of us who want to vaccinate, would like to vaccinate, the provision of vaccines is still the biggest limiting factor. We ask Cook County residents for their continued patience as we work to lift one of the county’s largest vaccine programs in the country. ‘
Provincial officials expect to be able to administer up to 3,000 vaccines a day “when the Tinley Park site is fully optimized and when sufficient vaccine is available.”
As of Tuesday, seven massive vaccination sites will open in suburban Cook County. (Full list of locations here)
The province has said it plans to open at least five extra-large sites in the suburbs in the coming weeks, but that will depend on the availability of vaccines.
Phase 1B, which began Monday, opened vaccinations for people 65 and older, as well as ‘essential workers’, who respond first, teachers such as teachers and support staff, child care workers, grocery stores, postal workers and more.
In addition to the Tinley Park site, several Walgreens and Jewel Osco locations have also begun vaccinations or opened appointments for Illinois residents eligible under Phase 1B of the state vaccination.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has launched a website where residents can be eligible to find vaccinations and make appointments.
The governor said the current vaccination sites in the state are only available by appointment, but that the state plans to start boarding in the coming weeks.
“As the federal supply of vaccines increases and Illinois receives more vaccines, the state will begin boarding rooms and expand premises to additional providers such as doctors’ offices and emergency clinics,” the governor’s office said in a release Monday. “More information on the locations will be announced in the coming weeks.”