Walgreens acknowledged there was a problem but declined to comment on the number of people affected.
“Due to limited functionality in our scheduler at the time, a limited number of individuals were only able to schedule their first dose appointment,” Campbell O’Connor, a Walgreens spokesman said in an emailed statement. “We are committed to providing second doses to these individuals, and our team members are reaching out to all patients affected to attempt to accommodate them. At this time, we have added functionality which allows all individuals to book their first and second dose at the same time. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
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David Cihla frequently visits central Illinois for work and to visit his daughter, a University of Illinois student.
Next week, the Chicago resident will be making the three and half hour drive down Interstate 55 to get his first COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Springfield’s northside.
“It seems to me Springfield is the place to go for anyone that’s really looking and has a way to get there,” said Cihla.
Officials have stressed patience as they slowly make vaccination appointments available. But as people place hope in the vaccine to return life to some semblance of normality, many have begun searching any place they can to find an open appointment. And many, like Cihla, are willing to make the hours-long trip to get that shot in the arm.
Mary Hansen / NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS
Illinois has given more than two million vaccinations. But Black residents are less likely to get the shots than their white peers, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data. As of Feb. 22, 4% of Sangamon County’s vaccine doses have gone to Black residents, who make up 13% of the county’s population, according to census numbers.
State and county health officials point to hesitancy – a distrust of the medical establishment about getting the vaccine – as a reason for the gap. Nationwide surveys show there is more hesitancy among Black and Latino communities. Still, advocates for equitable distribution say ensuring access is as urgent as education.
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