Press Release…
from the Health Care Council of Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 10, 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kevin Heffernan
kheffernan@hccil.org
847-650-3773

Springfield, Ill. — The Health Care Council of Illinois (HCCI), representing over 300 skilled nursing facilities, 55,000 residents and 100,000 employees in Illinois, issued the following statement regarding Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s announcement today to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all healthcare workers, which HCCI called for earlier this week:

“We support Gov. Pritzker’s move to require all healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine and call on those implementing the Governor’s order to ensure that all segments of the industry are covered, including home and community-based services.

Operators of Illinois’ skilled nursing facilities have spent countless hours formulating plans to educate, encourage and collaborate with residents and staff to get vaccinated, from working one on one with unvaccinated employees, employing infectious disease experts to answer questions and concerns about the vaccine, and partnering with trusted community groups to deploy information campaigns about the importance of the vaccines.

With the rise of the highly contagious Delta variant, we recognized bolder action was necessary to protect the most vulnerable.

The vaccine is the most effective way to put an end to this pandemic. This mandate is a step in that direction.

We are committed to continuing to collaborate with our state leaders, regulatory agencies, unions, workers and community partners to identify the best strategies to keep our patients safe and healthy.”

About the Health Care Council of Illinois

The Health Care Council of Illinois (HCCI) strives to bridge the divide between policymakers and skilled nursing facilities across the state. As a nonprofit member association, we represent over 300 licensed skilled nursing facilities in Illinois. Through education and advocacy, we work collaboratively with administrators, lawmakers and other stakeholders to find creative, practical solutions to complex public policy issues impacting our residents and neighbors. For more information, visit www.hccil.org.