Governor: First Illinois vaccine to health workers

The arrival of coronavirus vaccine won't mean the end of mask wearing and social distancing to combat the pandemic in Illinois, according to the state's governor and public health director.

Governor J.B. Pritzker says the state's initial doses will be for health care workers and people in long-term care facilities. He says infections, hospitalizations and deaths are likely to continue for some time. Illinois' first vaccine shipment should be 109,000 doses, enough for 54,500 people because the Pfizer product requires two shots three weeks apart.

The federal government calls for hospital health care and support staff to be first in line, along with nursing home residents.

That so-called Phase 1a includes 764,000 people. The shipments will arrive at 10 "regional hub" hospitals across the state and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois Department of Public Health director, confirmed that health staff at the hubs will be among the first to be inoculated.