Colleagues,
Today, I wanted to share an important message from our labor partner, AFSCME, regarding vaccination. AFSCME's short, powerful video is about Randy Hellmann, a longtime Illinois AFSCME local union president, Council 31 executive board member, and staff representative who died of COVID-19. Randy's final wish was that his fellow union members get vaccinated, so that no one has to go through what he did.
Thank you to AFSCME for honoring Randy's memory with this video and for sharing it with us.
As the video states, "AFSCME stands as one. Let's vaccinate as one." Regardless of whether you are an AFSCME member, it is a moving call to action.
If you have not been vaccinated, there are many appointment and walk-in options, including at many local pharmacies and statewide vaccination locations. For further detail, please visit the Illinois COVID-19 vaccine locator at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location.
The increasing rates and availability of vaccination across our state are encouraging, but, as movingly expressed in AFSCME's video, both for ourselves and for each other, we have to keep up the momentum. Please continue to remain vigilant and stay well.
Thank you for all you continue to do for each other and for the people we are here to serve.
Sincerely,
Grace
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, IDHS
