Illinois will have to vaccinate 10 million people against COVID. What could go wrong?
Skip to main content
MDHC_Logotype_white
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • This Week's News
    • COVID-19
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition
    • Plunging demand for COVID-19 tests may leave U.S. exposed
      J&J's 1-dose shot cleared, giving U.S. third COVID-19 vaccine
      By the Numbers: Largest behavioral health hospitals, 2021
      Why healthcare should also fight for $15
    • Plunging demand for COVID-19 tests may leave U.S. exposed
      J&J's 1-dose shot cleared, giving U.S. third COVID-19 vaccine
      Fighting COVID on three fronts
      Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque and Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, N.M.
      Providers weigh long-term risks, rewards of post-COVID collaboration
    • Dr. Imran Andrabi
      Q&A: ThedaCare CEO says lessons from COVID-19 will inform new approaches to population health management
      The Check Up: Dr. Imran Andrabi
      The Check Up: Dr. Imran Andrabi of ThedaCare
      Hospitals confront water shortages in winter storm aftermath
      beaumont-hospital-royal-oak_i_i_i.jpg
      Beaumont says nearly 2,000 second-shot vaccinations canceled due to vaccine shortage
    • CMS: Group health plans must cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing
      High MLRs inspire insurers to focus on quality improvements
      Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, OU Health Physicians mired in contract dispute
      Beyond the Byline: Insurers are betting on virtual-first plans as COVID-19 shifts care pathways
    • CMS: Group health plans must cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing
      Another Pennsylvania health network vaccinates employee kin
      Why AstraZeneca and J&J's vaccines, in use elsewhere, are still on hold in America
      Lawmakers probe if Cuomo's policy fueled nursing home deaths
    • UPMC's patient volumes stabilize, boosting 2020 profits
      Genomics firms taking advantage of SPACs trend to go public faster
      COVID-19 could dent hospital revenue by at least $53 billion in 2021, AHA says
      deloitte GDP image chart graph going up
      Sponsored Content Provided By Deloitte
      Breaking the cost curve
    • Teladoc reports $383.3M in fourth-quarter revenue, up 145%
      man and woman looking at ipad wearing face masks stock image
      Sponsored Content Provided By Surescripts
      Improvements to benefits data can enhance ePrescribing and the patient experience
      Oscar Health's $1B IPO sets the stage for more health tech exits in 2021
      A map of the U.S. with images of the coronavirus.
      The digital divide becomes a new social determinant of health
    • Fighting COVID on three fronts
      46.7% of surveyed adults reported delaying dental treatment due to COVID-19. 74.7% delayed a routine checkup.
      Data Points: Dental visits during the pandemic
      A provider wearing PPE looking at a wall with patient notes.
      Rethinking quality and safety in the age of COVID
      exam room-main_i.jpg
      Nurse practitioner with not-for-profit clinic in Detroit church expands to COVID-19 vaccines
    • Alicia Wilson
      Q&A: Emerging leader Alicia Wilson on staying close to home
      Michael Jordan, Novant team up to address health equity
      Former Ascension CEO, the first to lead the health system, passes away
      Biden's pick to head CMS would be first Black woman to hold post
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Insights
    • ACA 10 Years After
    • Best Practices
    • Special Reports
    • Innovations
    • The Affordable Care Act after 10 years
    • Dr. John Fischer
      Patient-reported outcomes tool for hernia surgery helps physicians improve care
      New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      doctor with patient
      COVID-19 treatment protocol developed in the field helps patients recover
      Rachel Wyatt
      Project to curb pressure injuries in hospitals shows promise
    • What's next for on-demand telehealth companies?
      A CalOptima PACE vaccination clinic.
      Will COVID-19 be the catalyst for creating a more sustainable healthcare system?
      A map of the U.S. with images of the coronavirus.
      The digital divide becomes a new social determinant of health
      Ascension’s St. Mary’s Hospital Surgery Center at Towne Centre and Allegheny Health Network’s Bethel Park surgery center
      Hospitals see opportunity, risk in ambulatory surgery centers
    • Dr. Daniel Hall
      UPMC pilots machine learning, telehealth to inform patient transfers
      A woman being recorded using her inhaler on a smartphone.
      Digital check-ins, connected inhalers help control asthma
      A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
      A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
  • Transformation
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • What's next for on-demand telehealth companies?
      Rising prescription copays drop adherence, spike mortality, research shows
      Dr. John Fischer
      Patient-reported outcomes tool for hernia surgery helps physicians improve care
      Highmark Health inks six-year cloud, tech deal with Google
    • Hospitals' Medicare billing practices suggest upcoding, OIG says
      California hospitals prepare ethical protocol to prioritize lifesaving care
      Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway disband Haven
      Digital pathways poised to reshape healthcare continuum in 2021
    • Dr. Daniel Hall
      UPMC pilots machine learning, telehealth to inform patient transfers
      A woman being recorded using her inhaler on a smartphone.
      Digital check-ins, connected inhalers help control asthma
      Humana partners with in-home provider for 24/7 care
      A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
    • Coordinated payment policies could speed transition to value, experts say
      CMMI's geographic direct contracting model needs an overhaul, experts say
      Hospitals fight UnitedHealthcare policies over lab test, specialty drug payments
      Cigna eliminates prior authorization for coronary CT scans
  • Data/Lists
    • Rankings/Lists
    • Interactive Databases
    • Data Points
    • Health Systems Financials
      Executive Compensation
      Physician Compensation
  • Op-Ed
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
    • Dr. Alan Kaplan
      The risks, rewards of taking organizations 'where they haven’t gone before'
      Wellstar CEO calls adapting for the pandemic her bold move
      Howard P. Kern
      Recognizing the value of telehealth in its infancy
      Dr. Stephen Markovich
      A bold move helped take him from family doctor to OhioHealth CEO
    • Dr. Stephen Markovich
      Making sure we're aligned along the path to achieving inclusion
      Barry Ostrowsky
      Ending racism is a journey taken together; the starting point must be now
      Laura Lee Hall and Gary Puckrein
      Increased flu vaccination has never been more important for communities of color
      John Daniels Jr.
      Health equity: Making the journey from buzzword to reality
    • Mikelle Moore
      The promising future of rural healthcare, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic
      In-person visitation must be part of the national COVID-19 response
      We've lost so much to the pandemic, but we've also made gains that will endure
      Medical groups key to meeting president's vaccine pledge
    • Letters: Eliminating bias in healthcare needs to be ‘deliberate and organic’
      Letters: Maybe dropping out of ACOs is a good thing for patients
      Letters: White House and Congress share blame for lack of national COVID strategy
      Letters: VA making strides to improve state veterans home inspections
    • Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      How blockchain could ease frustration with the payment process
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Three steps to better data-sharing for payer and provider CIOs
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Reduce total cost of care: 6 reasons why providers and payers should tackle the challenge together
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Why CIOs went from back-office operators to mission-critical innovators
  • Awards
    • Award Programs
    • Nominate
    • Previous Award Programs
    • Other Award Programs
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare Logo for Navigation
      Nominations Open - Best Places to Work in Healthcare
      Nominations Open - 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Minorities in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Minority Leaders
      • - Minorities to Watch
    • Women in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Women Leaders
      • - Women to Watch
    • Excellence in Nursing Awards
    • Design Awards
    • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
    • 100 Top Hospitals
    • ACHE Awards
  • Events
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Webinars
    • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • podium march webinar logo lockup
      Sponsored Content Provided By Podium
      Webinar: Critical Touchpoints for Every Patient’s Journey — How Technology Plays an Important Role
      scp health logo lockup march 2021
      Sponsored Content Provided By SCP Health
      Webinar: COVID’s call to action — Reset for success in 2021
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Healthcare Transformation Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Virtual Briefings
      • - Hospital of the Future
      • - Mental Health
      • - Patient Safety & Quality
      • - Strategic Marketing
      • - Virtual Health
      • - Workplace of the Future
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
  • Listen
    • Podcast - Next Up
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Next Up Podcast: Educating patients on the COVID-19 vaccine with Tanya Andreadis
      Dr. Joseph Cacchione
      Next Up Podcast: Educating patients on the COVID-19 vaccine with Dr. Joseph Cacchione
      Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next four years
      Carter Dredge
      Next Up Podcast: Ready, set, innovate! Innovation and disruption in healthcare
    • Beyond the Byline: Insurers are betting on virtual-first plans as COVID-19 shifts care pathways
      Beyond the Byline: How residents' stories shape our coverage of the vaccination rollout in nursing homes
      Beyond the Byline: Regulators aim to boost value push with fraud and abuse law updates
      An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Beyond the Byline: Verifying information on the chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout
    • Outreach during COVID-19
      Leading intention promote diversity and inclusion
      Introducing Healthcare Insider Podcast
    • The Check Up: Dr. Imran Andrabi
      The Check Up: Dr. Imran Andrabi of ThedaCare
      The Check Up: Tanya Blackmon
      The Check Up: Tanya Blackmon of Novant Health
      The Check Up: Dr. Patrick Hwu
      The Check Up: Dr. Patrick Hwu of the Moffitt Cancer Center
      The Check Up: Suresh Gunasekaran
      The Check Up: Suresh Gunasekaran of the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
    • ivana naeymi-rad one on one intelligent medical objects
      Video: Ivana Naeymi Rad of Intelligent Medical Objects
  • MORE +
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Safety & Quality
October 31, 2020 08:42 PM

Illinois will have to vaccinate 10 million people against COVID. What could go wrong?

Stephanie Goldberg
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Modern Healthcare Illustration / Getty Images

    Illinois is gearing up for an unprecedented logistical challenge in the midst of a public health crisis.

    The goal is simple: vaccinate 80 percent of the population against COVID-19. But getting the shots from manufacturers to people's arms will require precise coordination among numerous public and private entities, as well as an airtight supply chain—not to mention a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

    The complexity, urgency and scope of such a vaccination campaign make this an effort unlike any other in history.

    Illinois needs to vaccinate at least 10 million people as quickly as possible—a scale and pace far greater than other vaccination campaigns.

    The state must monitor and enforce compliance with a strict priority regime for the initial rollout, in which health care workers, residents and staff at long-term care and assisted-living facilities, and other essential workers get vaccinated before a general population clamoring for shots. Cold storage and handling requirements add another layer of complexity, with some COVID-19 vaccine candidates stored between minus 76 and minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit, compared with a range of 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit for the flu vaccine.

    And with many vaccines requiring two doses administered at least three weeks apart, Illinois must track who got which shot when. On top of it all, the state will continue managing COVID-19, which has infected about 400,000 Illinoisans. "All of that together makes for an unprecedented set of challenges for our health care system," says Katherine Baicker, dean of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

    A successful vaccination campaign would significantly slow the spread of the virus, allowing normal activities to resume and the economy to recover. Failure would allow the virus and its social and economic consequences to continue unchecked. Illinois recently unveiled a draft of its COVID-19 vaccination plan, as required by the federal government.

    At this point, state officials don't know which vaccines will be distributed, or when they'll be available. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are expected to have the safety and efficacy data needed to ask the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for emergency use authorization this year. But experts doubt authorization will come before January.

    "Vaccination will take place over many months and may unfold in phases, as more vaccine becomes available," Illinois' draft plan reads. "Demand for the pandemic vaccine will be high throughout the response." There are many unknowns and potential bottlenecks that could derail the effort.

    For starters, without an authorized COVID-19 vaccine and details from the federal government around production and distribution, Illinois and Chicago won't know how many doses they can expect to get during the initial phase of the rollout. Without knowing "what that viable vaccine is going to be, and what manufacturer is going to distribute that first vaccine, it's really challenging to align a specific process," says Jeff Thiel, assistant vice president of pharmacy services at NorthShore University HealthSystem.

    "There are a lot of hypotheticals," he says.

    Illinois intends to allocate doses to each public health jurisdiction across the state based on population size, while factoring in hot spots and health equity. For example, if the state gets 200,000 doses, Cook County would get approximately 56,000, or 28 percent, since it's home to 28 percent of Illinois' population, the draft plan says.

    "Initially, when we anticipate supplies will be limited, the federal government will actually allocate doses to the different states and certain local jurisdictions, so we will not be requesting a number," says Dr. Candice Robinson, medical director at the Chicago Department of Public Health. "They will just say, 'You have this many doses.' "

    During the first phase, health care workers will get priority, followed by residents and staff at long-term care and assisted-living facilities. The next group in line would be critical workforce members.

    The vaccines will be allocated based on the state's mapping of priority populations. In its plan, the state says public health departments should coordinate with local health care providers, emergency management and other partners to develop a list of entities serving priority groups and determine whether to set up closed vaccination sites.

    The city says it eventually plans to use large indoor spaces at City Colleges, the largest community college system in Illinois, to vaccinate large numbers of people while maintaining social distancing.

    But before the vaccine can be administered, a complex supply chain orchestration must occur.

    Big questions will need to be addressed: "Do we have the syringes and the vials necessary to deliver these vaccines?" says Tarek Abdallah, an assistant professor of operations at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. "It becomes about the supporting kits. That's not trivial, making sure we have those numbers in place."

    Vaccines and ancillary supplies—such as needles, syringes and alcohol prep pads—will be shipped directly to health care providers. Orders will either come from medical and pharmaceutical supplies company McKesson, the federal government's main COVID-19 vaccine distributor, or directly from vaccine manufacturers. It will be up to health care providers to procure their own sharps disposal containers, bandages and additional personal protective equipment.

    Making this particular endeavor even more challenging is the fact that storage and handling requirements will vary, with some vaccines needing to be refrigerated or frozen and others requiring ultracold temperatures.

    "Already our supply chains are strained because of COVID, and now we need to use a subset of a subset of our supply chain," Abdallah says. "It's a very complicated supply chain, and you need a lot of things to work together for this to happen at a large scale."

    Ultracold freezers aren't common outside large health systems and academic medical centers that use them for research purposes. While the city of Chicago does have its own ultracold storage capacity, with the ability to house around 100,000 doses, Robinson says it'll work closely with health care providers to secure capacity. The CDC has advised jurisdictions against purchasing ultracold storage equipment at this time.

    "Knowing that the first wave of vaccines will be fairly limited, we definitely have the ability to store those on hand," Thiel says. Still, NorthShore is among health systems looking to buy additional ultracold freezers to expand storage capacity. Many ultralow medical freezers that are about the size of an average refrigerator cost at least $10,000.

    Manufacturers plan to ship vaccines in coolers packed with dry ice. The coolers should be repacked with dry ice within 24 hours of receipt and repacked again within five days, according to the CDC.

    Some of the biggest uncertainties include how to supply rural areas that don't expect to vaccinate thousands of people at a time, and what to do if people don't show up.

    "Let's say we build the supply chain and people don't buy in—they don't want to take the vaccine or they don't trust the vaccine that's being delivered," Abdallah says. "It's incredibly important in terms of efficiencies to the supply chain to limit the amount of vaccines that get disposed."

    Beyond a possible supply shortages and missing links in the cold chain, industry observers say bad weather could stall the vaccine rollout if shipments don't get to providers within the optimal timeframe.

    In the case of a transportation or security issue, the state says it's prepared to call on the Illinois Department of Corrections, which maintains refrigerated fleet vehicles to transport biologics, and the Illinois National Guard, as well as the Illinois Trucking Association.

    With some vaccines requiring two doses roughly three weeks apart, timing will be crucial.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Fighting COVID on three fronts
    Fighting COVID on three fronts
    Data Points: Dental visits during the pandemic
    Data Points: Dental visits during the pandemic
    Sponsored Content
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up for free enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today

    The weekly magazine, websites, research and databases provide a powerful and all-encompassing industry presence. We help you make informed business decisions and lead your organizations to success.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Instagram

    Stay Connected

    Join the conversation with Modern Healthcare through our social media pages

    MDHC_Logotype_white
    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • This Week's News
      • COVID-19
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition
    • Insights
      • ACA 10 Years After
      • Best Practices
      • Special Reports
      • Innovations
    • Transformation
      • Patients
      • Operations
      • Care Delivery
      • Payment
    • Data/Lists
      • Rankings/Lists
      • Interactive Databases
      • Data Points
    • Op-Ed
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Awards
      • Award Programs
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Minorities in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Minority Leaders
          • - Minorities to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Nominate
      • Previous Award Programs
        • Excellence in Nursing Awards
        • Design Awards
        • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
      • Other Award Programs
        • 100 Top Hospitals
        • ACHE Awards
    • Events
      • Conferences
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Healthcare Transformation Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Virtual Briefings
          • - Hospital of the Future
          • - Mental Health
          • - Patient Safety & Quality
          • - Strategic Marketing
          • - Virtual Health
          • - Workplace of the Future
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Webinars
      • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Listen
      • Podcast - Next Up
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • MORE +
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing