CARBONDALE, Ill. (WJPF) — Large scale COVID-19 vaccination clinics begin Friday in Carbondale.

The two clinics – at the Banterra Center and the Carbondale Civic Center – are open to all southern Illinoisans, regardless of where they reside. Currently, only people falling into the 1-A or 1-B categories of the vaccine distribution plan are eligible to get the shot.

The National Guard will be onsite to help administer the vaccine.

Separately, SIH says they hope to administer close to 800 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine Friday.

The healthcare system says they received more vaccines than they thought they would.

Current and former patients, 65 and over, can schedule an appointment.