Illinois Governer JB Pritzker says he is pleased with the help the National Guard has been in getting people vaccinated against COVID -19, especially in rural areas.
"I want to express to them my thanks to the teams that are on the ground here and all across this region for their work in keeping the people of Illinois safe."
Speaking at the mass vaccination site at the Carbondale Civic Center, Governor Pritzker says the number of people getting the shots, is climbing.
"At this site alone the team has administered over 12-thousand doses since opening about a month ago. Which makes a grand total of over 31-thousand in Jackson County alone."
As of today (Friday), Governor Pritzker says over 60 percent of those over the age of 65 have been vaccinated, but, he adds, residents still need to mask up.