Illinois’ largest county, Cook County, announced a COVID-19 vaccine passport mandate last month requiring all bars, restaurants, and fitness centers to “require any individual 5 years of age and older to show proof that they are fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 with an approved vaccine in order to enter the establishment.”
However, leaders from Orland Park, Niles, Morton Grove, Tinley Park and Lincolnwood have so far chosen to not enforce the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in their towns.
“I have a village of nearly 60,000 residents to answer to; I don’t need extreme politicians in the Cook County government telling me what is best for Orland Park,” Mayor Keith Pekau said in a letter to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
Pekau also reiterated his objection in a video posted on YouTube. “The vaccine passport requirement, ordered by one person, is an affront to our laws and the rights of our citizens and businesses,” the mayor said.
“I asked Toni Preckwinkle for data supporting her vaccine mandate,” Pekau wrote on Twitter. “They sent over a case study of COVID cases in 3 gyms in June & July of 2020 in Hawaii. . . I wish I was joking. Somehow, 3 gyms on an island before the vaccine justifies a vaccine mandate here in Cook Co. in ’22.”