Educators, health care workers vaccine mandate deadline is Sept. 19

SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WICS/WRSP) — Gov. JB Pritzker's deadline for some professionals to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was Sunday, Sept. 19.

This requirement is for all PK-12 grade teachers and staff, all higher education staff and students, and all hospital staff.

This mandate was announced by Gov. Pritzker in late August.

Those who do not get vaccinated will be required to do routine testing.

Some parents, like Jadacia Gillespie, say teachers should be protected against COVID-19 because they are around children.

"They are hands-on and everything. Sometimes it's hard to stay 6 feet from the children especially when they need your help and stuff,” Gillespie said. “Educators, I do believe, should. Everybody else it should be their choice.”

Originally the deadline was set for September 5 to get at least one dose of the vaccine, but there was a two-week extension.

Health and education organizations requested the extension.

Vaccines are also required for all state employees at congregate housing facilities. The deadline for that is October 4.