Saying that he wanted to head off a “pandemic of the unvaccinated," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday mandated COVID-19 vaccines for all public education employees who work with students pre-kindergarten through college.
The vaccine mandate is scheduled to begin Sept. 5.
While the vaccine mandate does not cover students in grades K through 12, it does apply to college students.
In addition to the vaccine policy, Pritzker announced Thursday that starting Monday, masks will once again be required for all indoor public places.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on Aug. 26, 2021.