ORLAND PARK, IL — The Village of Orland Park has announced on Thursday that they are preparing to distribute a coronavirus vaccine when available in the village.
“Today’s Food and Drug Administration’s advisory panel endorsement of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine marks a milestone in the country’s battle against COVID-19,” the village said in a statement. “The Village of Orland Park looks forward to the soon-to-be distributed COVID-19 vaccine that will provide our residents with a safeguard against contraction of the virus that has impacted the entire global community since late 2019.”
A certified distribution plan was developed in 2005 by the Orland Park Police Department in collaboration with the Orland Hills Police Department, Orland Fire Protection District and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) — which covers portions of Orland Park, Orland Hills and parts of unincorporated Cook County communities.
“We are ready to assist with distribution efforts as needed,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. “We will continue to work collectively with State and county government health organizations to convey important information to the public.”
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The village noted the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID Vaccination Plan statement, which says “The federal government will determine the amount of COVID-19 vaccine designated for each state. Using this allotment, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will then manage and approve orders from enrolled providers. During initial allocations when vaccine is scarce, local health departments will determine the allocation for their jurisdiction based on their local mass vaccination plan.”
As vaccines become available to the public, Orland Park said they will make a list of available facilities and services that are able to provide the vaccine on the village’s website, along with their social media accounts.
“Should the need arise for the Village of Orland Park to enact an active pharmaceutical distribution site, the Village, in conjunction with the Village of Orland Hills and the Orland Fire Protection District, are prepared to fully staff the site and move forward with the CCDPH-certified plan created for this purpose,” said Orland Park Police Chief Joe Mitchell.
The village thanked the community moving forward for everyday adjustments made, and those moving forward, while the village prepares a protection plan.
“Having an effective COVID-19 vaccine is a great step towards getting back to a normal way of life,” Pekau said. “We will do everything we can to aid the success of the vaccination program.”
Although planning for distribution is under way, Orland Township officials are also preparing to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, if doses are distributed to the township, according to Supervisor Paul O’Grady.
O’Grady said the township has strong and productive relationships with local mayors, school superintendents, law enforcement and fire protection district chiefs, businesses, churches, nonprofits and other stakeholder organizations, making them “naturally suited to bolster vaccine distribution on such a massive scale.”
“Residents of our region expect all of us to be coordinating our resources so that the COVID-19 vaccine is allocated equitably, across the region, and in accordance with our state’s distribution plan,” O’Grady said. “Orland Township is committed to ensuring our constituents receive the quality level of service they deserve.”
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