On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, the first COVID19 vaccine distribution took place in Illinois. A significant amount of planning was involved regarding the required security for the vaccine itself. Once the vaccine came into Illinois, it needed law enforcement escort from the central distribution point to ten regional distribution sites. Once there, it needed law enforcement to escort or transport it to the county/local public health agencies.
ILEAS worked with the Illinois State Police (ISP), the IL. Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the IL. Department of Public Health (IDPH) to provide escort and site security. ISP provided security to the ten distribution centers. ILEAS coordinated the security from those centers to the local public health agencies. The ILEAS Mobile Field Force Team Commanders coordinated the initial escorts between the 10 distribution sites and the first 50 counties to get the vaccine. In most instances, local public health brought their own local law enforcement agency as security that was documented by the Team Commanders. In some instances, ILEAS Mobile Field Force team members provided the escort.
The video shows two Region 3 Central Mobile Field Force team members from Romeoville Police and the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office providing security as the vaccine was being delivered to a medical facility in New Lenox, Illinois.
ILEAS has been assisting every LE agency in Illinois with support, information, guidance and advice throughout the entire pandemic. This service was just another example of the great work ILEAS has been doing through these difficult times.