Children Under 12 Now Able to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Wednesday announced that it has adopted the CDC’s recommendation that that children ages 5 to 11 receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved for use in children 12 older.
“I encourage parents who may have questions about COVID-19 vaccines for their children to talk with a pediatrician or family doctor,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said. “Medical experts and scientists have reviewed the data, which included clinical trials with more than 3,000 children receiving the vaccine and have recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children. While most children do not suffer severe COVID-19 illness, some do. We also know children are great transmitters and can unknowingly infect people who could suffer severe illness. We need as many people as possible, including children, to be vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus and end this pandemic.”
IDPH reports that 2,200 providers throughout the state are already enrolled and available to vaccinate children. IDPH staff are also available to help hold vaccination drives at schools around the state.
There is no requirement for children to receive a vaccine to attend school. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said this week that such a requirement would require legislative action.
Pritzker Names Torres Deputy Gov. for Education
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Wednesday announced that Martin V. Torres will serve as the new Deputy Gov. for Education.
Torres, who previously served in the administration as First Assistant Deputy Gov. for Education and as a Senior Policy Advisor, succeeds Deputy Gov. Jesse Ruiz, who announced his departure on Aug. 25, 2021.
“Martin is a dedicated public servant and trusted advisor whose passion for achieving a quality education for all of our children will continue to be an asset to this administration,” Pritzker said in a statement. “From fighting for education equity at the Latino Policy Forum, to executing our P-20 education agenda and helping bring students safely back to our classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin has done so much to improve the lives of Illinois’ families. I value his insights and look forward to our continued work to ensure a full pandemic recovery and quality education for all of our students.”
“The Governor and I are focused on making Illinois the best state in the nation to raise children. Illinois students, now more than ever, need additional support to achieve their potential and pursue their dreams,” Torres said in a statement. “This administration is committed to changing the trajectory of students’ lives by expanding access to early care and education, bolstering the state’s investment in the k-12 funding, making college more affordable, and expanding pathways to emerging industries.”
Haley Takes Office as State Homelessness Chief
The Illinois Department of Human Services Wednesday announced the appointment of Christine Haley as State Homelessness Chief.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Haley would be taking the role when he created the position through an executive order issued on Sept. 3, 2021.
“We have an incredible opportunity to fight homelessness through the collective efforts of persons experiencing homelessness, community providers, and coordinated government departments,” said Christine Haley, State Homelessness Chief. “I am thankful for Governor Pritzker and his administration for taking the bold steps to create the Interagency Task Force and Community Advisory Council. I look forward to creating a visionary plan with the community to prevent and end homelessness for Illinois residents.”
In her new position, Haley will chair the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and co-chair the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. She will also craft state policy related reducing and eliminating homelessness and coordinate with other state departments to accomplish those goals.
Haley previously served as Senior Director of Programs at Housing Opportunities for Women from 2018-2019.
New Program Provides Released Prisoners State ID
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White Wednesday announced a new program that will provide individuals leaving the state’s prisons with a state ID card.
The State ID Program for Returning Residents program was successfully piloted at 18 Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities this year. It will now expand to serve 27 IDOC facilities by April 2022. The goal is to reduce the amount of time prisoners currently spend gathering documents after they are released and need an ID for employment, housing, etc.
“The State ID Program for Returning Residents gives people who have served their time in prison a necessary tool as they re-enter their communities,” White said in a statement. “A state ID card is essential to transition back into society.”
“Equipping individuals in custody with the resources they need to reintegrate into their communities successfully reduces the likelihood they will return to IDOC,” IDOC Director Rob Jeffreys said in a statement. “We are proud to work with the Secretary of State and our agency partners to implement innovative solutions that help break the cycle of incarceration for many Illinois families.”
Prior to release, incarcerated individuals work with IDOC staff to gather the necessary documents for a state ID. Once processed and approved by the Secretary of State’s Office, a state ID is given back to IDOC, where they send it back to the appropriate facility to be given to the individual upon release.
Allison Richard
Legislative Consultant
