Gov. Pritzker: Vaccine priority given to Illinoisans 65 and up

Gov. Pritzker during a COVID-19 press briefing. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The message remains: wear a mask. But there’s a new one: get a shot.

Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday some minority groups, customarily and culturally, do not trust vaccines.

“We are doing education campaigns to make sure that people of color and others who may be vaccine-hesitant will learn and understand how important it is to get vaccinated. You know, I think many of the people who are hesitant to get the vaccine want to see get someone else get it: someone that they know.”

Pritzker, adding more vaccine priority will be given to essential frontliner’s and Illinoisans 65 and up, says he expects the new president to activate the Defense Production Act to free up the flow of vaccines.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…