For months, Senate Republicans have called on the Pritzker Administration for more inclusion of the legislature in all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic response, including the state’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Seeking a solution, and acting on a suggestion by the Governor, over the past several weeks, Senators have been in contact with local health departments, including a Zoom meeting last week with more than 40 county officials, working to identify the major issues they are experiencing in getting vaccinations to their residents.
Based on local feedback, the Caucus produced a report outlining the biggest issues and suggestions from the local health departments. On March 4, Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (Hawthorn Woods) and Deputy Senate Republican Leader Sue Rezin (Morris) sent the report to the Governor, along with a letter asking Pritzker to consider the suggestions and begin to collaborate with local officials and lawmakers to make the vaccine rollout work for all Illinoisans.