Rev. Jesse Jackson transferred to rehab facility, unvaccinated wife in ICU as COVID-19 symptoms persist

August 29, 2021

Rev. Jesse Jackson transferred to rehab facility, unvaccinated wife in ICU as COVID-19 symptoms persist

Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Brown — Jesse Jackson and his wife Jacqueline Brown attend the Phoenix Dinner for the 48th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation on September 15, 2018 in Washington, DC.
Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been transferred to a rehab facility after being hospitalized for COVID-19.
His unvaccinated wife, Jacqueline Jackson, has been moved to the ICU at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The couple's son asked well-wishers to remain "prayerful" for those suffering as a result of COVID-19.
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The Rev. Jesse Jackson, 79, has been transferred to a rehabilitation facility at Northwestern Memorial Hospital while his wife, Jacqueline, has been moved to the ICU as her COVID-19 symptoms persist, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The civil rights leader will begin "intensive occupational and physical therapy" for his Parkinson's disease as his coronavirus symptom subside, according to a statement from their son.

His wife, who is receiving increased oxygen, is breathing on her own and is not on a ventilator, said their son Jonathan Jackson in a statement.

They were both admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 last week, Insider previously reported.

"We continue to receive the love that is being poured out to our family from around the world and it is greatly appreciated, as we express our love and concern for the millions of people who have been victimized by the COVID-19 virus and its variants," the son said in the statement. "We know this is a dangerous disease, so please remain prayerful for all of those who are suffering as a result."

Rev Jackson received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in January, NPR reported. He received his first dose as part of a publicized event to encourage Black people to get vaccinated, NBC News said.

So-called breakthrough COVID-19 infections for vaccinated individuals have been reported, especially among older or immunocompromised Americans. Experts say that those who are fully vaccinated are more likely to describe their conditions as mild.

Jacqueline Jackson has not been vaccinated, a family spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times.

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