A year after COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Illinois, over 18 million shots have been given

Illinois and Sangamon County have hit a milestone in the battle against COVID-19. A year after the first doses arrived, more than 18 million shots of vaccine have been administered in the state.

Health care workers in Chicago were among the first to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 15. A day later, Sangamon County workers begin receiving the shots.

“One year and 18 million doses later, the COVID-19 vaccine has saved countless lives across Illinois,” said Gov. JB Pritzker in a news release Wednesday. “I am incredibly grateful for the scientists, researchers and public health professionals who made this historic effort possible, allowing us to reunite with loved ones, return to small businesses, and engage with our communities once again. As we recognize the progress we’ve made, I urge all eligible Illinoisans to receive their vaccine or booster and protect themselves and their families this holiday season.”

A look at the numbers

Sangamon County has administered more than 277,472 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of Dec. 13, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

That's up 2.49% from the previous week's tally of 270,739 COVID-19 doses administered.

In Sangamon County, 59% of residents were fully vaccinated as of Dec. 13. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they've been given a single-dose shot (Johnson & Johnson) or a second shot (either Pfizer or Moderna).

More: Three new COVID-19-related deaths reported among Sangamon residents as cases keep climbing

Illinois reported 1,904,259 total cases of coronavirus, an increase of 3% from the week before.

The five counties with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in Illinois as of Dec. 13 are DuPage County (69%), Cook County (66%), Lake County (63%), Kendall County (62%) and Chicago (62%).

How many people in Sangamon County have received a COVID-19 vaccine?

• 83% of people in Sangamon County have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 161,305 people

• 59% of people in Sangamon County are fully vaccinated, for a total of 116,167 people

Logan County has administered more than 31,590 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Dec. 13, according to IDPH.

That's up 1.6% from the previous week's tally of 31,093 COVID-19 doses administered.

At least 50% of people living in Logan County were fully vaccinated as of Dec. 13.

How many people in Logan County have received a COVID-19 vaccine?

• 60% of people in Logan County have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 17,220 people

• 50% of people in Logan County are fully vaccinated, for a total of 14,370 people

How many people in Illinois have been vaccinated so far?

• 84% of people in Illinois have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 10,667,056 people

• 60% of people in Illinois are fully vaccinated, for a total of 7,583,996 people

COVID vaccinations for children and boosters

The percentages in this story reflect the total share of the population that has received vaccines. That now includes people as young as 5 years old, for whom vaccines have been authorized.

These weekly stories will be updated as more data on vaccination rates in children, as well as booster vaccination rates, are released.

For a county-by-county look at the vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 vaccine tracker, which is updated daily.

The State Journal-Register contributed. We pull data on local vaccine distribution on a weekly basis. Check back for our next weekly update mid-week for the latest numbers.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sangamon County Illinois vaccine rate: How many people are vaccinated?