Illinois Department of Public Health officials have announced that beginning this week, local health departments and other COVID- 19 vaccine providers will begin to receive a larger share of second doses to accommodate a greater number of second doses coming due.
With federal shipments of the vaccine to Illinois remaining limited, this will mean providers will receive a smaller share of first doses. Based on federal projections of vaccine shipments, the Illinois Department of Public Health anticipates these allocations will hold steady for the next several weeks before allocations of first doses can once again increase in March.
Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require a second dose to be up to 95% effective. Second doses need to be administered four weeks after the first dose for those who receive the Moderna vaccine, and three weeks for those who receive Pfizer.
