At a former Kmart store in Des Plaines, the parking lot was full and a steady stream of people walked through the building’s sliding glass doors. No one was there to shop: what was once the last remaining Kmart in Illinois is now one of Cook County’s COVID-19 mass vaccination sites. The store’s sign has been swapped for a banner announcing the vaccine site, and a member of the Illinois .
After months of waiting, all Illinois residents ages 16 and older became eligible Monday for the COVID-19 vaccination outside of Chicago. Now that the flood gates have opened, people are scouring websites and calling hotlines, wondering how to score an appointment when millions of people are vying for spots. The Tribune reached out to several Illinois vaccine hunters for their best tips on .