PEORIA, Ill. — Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike were on hand in Peoria Tuesday as the first front line care givers in the state received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Five OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center employees were given the shot to kick start the effort across the state.
Shannon Lesch, RN BSN, administered the vaccines to the following individuals:
- Chemica Jones, 41 – CNA
- Juan Fernandez, 22 – Transporter
- Doug Meyer, 38 – Respiratory therapist, airway manager
- Evelyn Tatum – Environmental Services
- Victor Chan, 35 – Chief of Emergency Services
President of OSF HealthCare St. Francis Robert Anderson said individuals who received the vaccine first were determined by how much contact they had with COVID positive individuals.
“People should seriously consider [getting the vaccine] to help get this COVID thing kicked out so we can get back to some kind of normalcy,” said vaccine recipient Evelyn Tatum.
Another recipient, Doug Meyer, said he was excited for what the vaccine could bring.
“Everyone’s tired of being at home or wearing their mask,” said Meyer. “Everyone wants to just get over it and get back to normal.”
Tatum and Meyer both said the vaccine felt just like a normal shot they would receive for the flu.
“These health care workers have been working all throughout the pandemic — these are our heroes,” said Pritzker. “Our heroes now have stepped forward to get their vaccine and show the way for everybody else.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this moment with all of you.”
More shipments of the vaccine are expected to be received in the coming weeks as Illinois works to vaccinate health care workers then long-term care facilities.
Video of the vaccinations:
