Illinois will soon launch two new mass vaccination sites, including one in Des Plaines, officials announced Wednesday.
The state-backed sites will launch Thursday in both Des Plaines and Quincy, bringing the total number of mass vaccination sites in Illinois to 18. Located in a former K-Mart at 1155 E. Oakton St., the Des Plaines site alone marks the fourth such site in Cook County.
“The COVID-19 vaccine site in Des Plaines is our latest step forward in vaccinating Cook County and our most vulnerable communities,” Cook County Board Chairman Toni Preckwinkle said in a statement. “This new site, which is conveniently located for many residents of the northwestern suburbs, will be used in the coming months as we move forward with our program and as the vaccine supply increases.”
For more information about appointments and availability click here.
The launch comes on the same day that appointments for the upcoming United Center location are open to certain eligible residents, with plans to begin vaccinations next week.
Both the Des Plaines and Quincy sites together will provide nearly 4,000 doses per day when at full capacity, officials said.
“With our new offices in Des Plaines and Quincy, Illinois now operates 18 state-sponsored mass vaccination centers, in addition to the network of over 800 vaccination sites across the state, all trained on one goal: to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible,” said Governor JB Pritzker in a statement. “One in six Illinois residents has already received their first dose of vaccine, and as the federal government increases deliveries to Illinois to more than 100,000 a day later this month, IDPH and our 97 local health departments are primed for the moment. In the meantime, I encourage all Illinois residents to wear their masks and remain vigilant as we move on to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. “
Pritzker also announced plans to activate National Guard members for Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac counties.
In addition, Chicago also plans to open “new mass vaccination sites” in the coming months.
According to lawyer Aurora Health, a mass vaccination site is being investigated at Wrigley Field.
Dr. Chicago’s health department commissioner Allison Arwady has also said the department has looked into hosting a massive vaccination site called Soldier Field.
“We’re all set to set up massive vaccination sites, but it’s about vaccination,” she said last month.
Pritzker has hinted at the possibility for additional locations in Illinois.
When asked if McCormick Place in Chicago could be a future location, Pritzker said, “The opportunity for us to look at other locations is always open.”
Click here to find out how to sign up for a COVID vaccine appointment in Illinois
The increasing number of mass vaccination sites follows Illinois’s entry into Phase 1B Plus, expanding the option for Phase 1B vaccinations to people with certain high-risk medical conditions and comorbidities.
As the state expanded its Phase 1B, many counties, health departments, and hospital systems – including Chicago and Cook County – said they would not join the rest of Illinois to increase eligibility, citing low vaccine offerings for those already in qualify.
Previously under the earlier iteration Phase 1B, residents 65 and older and key workers are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Here’s a look at the massive vaccination sites now launched in Illinois:
| Opens | Place | Address | Appointment | Doses possible at full capacity |
| Open now | Tinley Park Convention Center | 18451 Drive convention center |
https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 2160 |
| Open now | North Riverside Health Center | 1800 S. Harlem Avenue, North Riverside IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 270 |
| Open now | Morton East School Base Clinic | 2423 S. Austin Blvd, Cicero IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 270 |
| Open now | Robbins Health Center | 13450 S. Kedzie Ave., Robbins IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 135 |
| Open now | Cottage Grove Health Center | 1645 Cottage Grove Ave., Ford Heights IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 135 |
| Open now | Blue Island Health Center | 12757 S. Western Ave., Blue Island IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 270 |
| Open now | Arlington Heights Health Center | 3250 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 270 |
| Open now | Triton College | 2000 5th Ave., River Grove IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 540 |
| Open now | South Suburban College | 15800 State St., South Holland IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 540 |
| Open now | Thornton Fractional South High School | 18500 Burnham Ave, Lansing, IL 60438 | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 270 |
| Open now | Orr building | Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield IL | http://www.SCDPH.org (217) 210-8801 |
1620 |
| Open now | Belle-Clair fairground | 200 S. Belt E # 2650, Belleville IL | https://www.co.st-clair.il.us/departments/health-department | 1080 |
| Open now | Banterra Center | Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL | http://www.jchdonline.org/. | 540 |
| Open now | Carbondale Civic Center | Carbondale IL | http://www.jchdonline.org/. | 540 |
| Open now | Winnebago County | 1321 Sandy Hollow Rd., Rockford, IL | https://www.wchd.org/ | 1350 |
| Open now | Gateway Convention Center | 1 Gateway Drive., Collinsville, IL | https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/health/index.php | 1350 |
| 4th of March | Former K-Mart | 1155 E Oakton St, Des Plaines, IL | https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov | 1,890 |
| Apr 4 | Oakley Lindsey Center | 300 Civic Center Plaza, Quincy IL | https://www.adamscountytogether.com/ | 2,100 |
| Feb 10 | United Center | 1901 W. Madison Street, Chicago, IL | https://www.zocdoc.com/vaccine/screener?state=IL | 6000 |