DES PLAINES – The Illinois Department of Public Health will partner with Chicago Behavioral Hospital to administer vaccines to residents in Des Plaines and surrounding communities, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced today.

“Expanding access to the vaccine is especially important in the communities hit hardest by COVID-19, where rates of transmission, hospitalization and death are higher,” Murphy said. “This partnership with Chicago Behavioral Hospital will provide local residents a safe and convenient place to get vaccinated, which I hope will help our community bounce back and prevent further tragedy for the individuals and families who have been impacted by this pandemic.”

The state will provide the Des Plaines site with approximately 300-500 vaccine doses per week, in addition to the allocated doses the state distributes to existing health care partners, like local health departments and pharmacies.

Chicago Behavioral Hospital is one of nine sites in Illinois selected to participate in a pilot program launched by the state to ensure that communities hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to the vaccine.

The state-sponsored site at Chicago Behavioral Hospital will supplement the new Cook County mass vaccination site opening at the former Kmart in Des Plaines to significantly expand access to vaccines in the Northwest Suburbs.

Vaccines will be available to residents by appointment only. For additional information about vaccine availability, including locations and eligibility, visit www.coronavirus.Illinois.gov.

CENTREVILLE – As Illinois’ vaccination efforts continue, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) is highlighting a state partnership with Touchette Regional Hospital to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in St. Clair County.

“My top priority always has been, and will continue to be, the assurance that the underserved communities in the 57^th District have access to this vaccine,” Belt said. “The partnership with Touchette Hospital will not only provide that access, but also the trust needed to reduce residents’ reluctance to receive the vaccine.”

The new partnership between the state and Touchette Regional Hospital will help ensure that underserved communities, which have been the hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to the vaccine. The program also aims to reduce vaccine hesitancy in underserved areas by providing residents the ability to receive vaccines more quickly from trusted providers.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner’s (D-Springfield) district office staff held their first traveling office hour this week – the beginning of a program that Turner intends to make permanent.

“Traveling office hours are a great opportunity to talk with a member of my staff in a town near you about any problems or questions you may have,” Turner said. “It’s my top priority to serve as a resource for all of you to ensure community needs are met.”

Moving forward, traveling office hours are as follows:

First and third Wednesdays of the month:

• 9 a.m.-noon - Macoupin County: Carlinville City Hall Council Chambers, Carlinville City Hall, 550 N. Broad St., Carlinville, IL

Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, starting March 10:

• 8 a.m.-noon - Montgomery County: Litchfield City Hall, 120 E. Ryder St., Litchfield, IL
• 1 p.m.-4 p.m. - Madison County: Worden Village Hall, 115 W. Wall St., Worden, IL

Second and fourth Friday starting March 12:

• 9 a.m.-noon - Christian County: 115 N. Main St., Taylorville, IL

Masks are required, and social distancing will be observed. More information about the traveling office hours is available via phone at (217) 782-0228 or on Senator Turner’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is sponsoring a measure that allows Illinois corporations to safely and effectively hold shareholder meetings virtually.

“While a lot of our favorite activities have been halted – much of our daily work and meetings haven’t,” Morrison said. “Corporations must be able to have transparent and safe communications between their boards and shareholders.”

The measure amends the Business Corporation Act to allow boards of directors of corporations to host shareholder meetings through virtual communication. If a corporation chooses to use these means, they must implement measures to allow shareholders to view, participate and vote.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner praised a plan by the Illinois Department of Public Health and Crossing Healthcare of Macon County to administer more vaccines to residents in Decatur, part of a broader pilot program which includes five federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and five safety net hospitals around the state.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the residents of Macon County,” said Senator Turner (D- Springfield). “The launch of the new pilot plan will not only save many lives, but will also forge a partnership that will benefit communities in the future. Recognizing that certain gaps exist in health care access is a huge first step that will lead to successful health outcomes.”

The state will provide each of the sites with approximately 300-500 additional vaccine doses per week. This comes in addition to the doses the state already has slated for distribution to health care partners like local health departments and pharmacies.

“Increasing the number of doses at Crossing Healthcare will be crucial to curbing the disease that has claimed the lives of so many of our family members, friends and neighbors,” Turner added. “Illinois residents, especially those in underserved communities, deserve access to quality services and I am elated about the progress we are making.”

Crossing Healthcare is located at 990 North Water St. Decatur. To find additional information about vaccine availability, including locations and eligibility, visit http://www.coronavirus.Illinois.gov.

VILLA PARK – As COVID-19 vaccination distribution ramps up, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) is pleased to announce that the AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in Glendale Oaks is set to receive 300 to 500 more doses of the vaccine per week thanks to a new pilot program to reach underserved communities.

“I’m pleased to see that AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center in the 23rd District is one of the hospitals receiving additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Cullerton said. “The pilot program is a strong step in the right direction to ensuring people across our communities have access to this vital vaccine to help end this awful pandemic.”

The new pilot program comes from a partnership between Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health and federally qualified health centers and safety net hospitals across the state. The hospitals chosen for the first round of the pilot program were determined using IDPH’s COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index and local vaccination rates.

“Providing support to communities hit hardest by COVID-19 is essential. These additional doses are so important to raising our vaccination rates and getting everybody protected against this virus,” Cullerton said.

Vaccines will be available to residents by appointment only. More information on vaccination through AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center can be found here: https://www.amitahealth.org/covid-19/vaccine

  To find additional information about vaccine availability, including locations and eligibility, visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/.

DES PLAINES – A mass COVID-19 vaccination site will open at the former Kmart in Des Plaines, thanks in part to efforts by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to secure a more convenient location for residents in the Northwest Suburbs to receive their dose.

“It’s great to see this much-needed vaccination site open in Des Plaines, a community that suffered some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the region earlier in the pandemic,” Murphy said. “This repurposed facility will allow residents throughout the O’Hare corridor to take that all-important step to protect themselves and their loved ones: Getting vaccinated.”

The site will be housed in the former Kmart located at 1155 E. Oakton St. in Des Plaines and will be open to residents in Phases 1A and 1B, including health care personnel, first responders, front-line essential workers, and residents 65 and older.

In February, Murphy and other North Suburban senators sent a letter to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle urging the county to open a community vaccination site in the area. Lawmakers cited disproportionately high COVID-19 rates and a large population of older residents, a potentially deadly combination, as reasons to prioritize the area in the county’s vaccine distribution plan.

According to Cook County officials, appointments will be available at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. Vaccinations will begin Friday or Saturday, pending delivery of vaccine supplies from the federal government.

“When it’s your turn, I encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It’s the best way you can protect yourself and your loved ones,” Murphy said. “The faster we get everyone vaccinated, the sooner we can start going out to eat, traveling, and enjoying the in-person company of our family and friends again.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) is promoting the reopening of the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace during a Special Enrollment Period set up in response to COVID-19, allowing individuals and families to apply for and enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage.

“Health insurance should not be something you have to worry about during a pandemic,” Martwick said. “Take advantage of this enrollment window if you or your family have lost coverage.”