Phase 1A
Chicago is currently in Phase 1A of the plan, with health professionals and residents of long-term care facilities and staff eligible to get vaccinated.
Phase 1B
Phase 1B begins January 25, with Chicago residents over 65, non-healthcare living environments, including homeless shelters and front-line workers. Front-line workers include grocery, manufacturing, daycare, K-12 and early education workers, public transportation, farm workers, government continuity, and postmen.
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The city expects most people in Phase 1B to be vaccinated in February and March.
Phase IC
Phase 1C is tentatively scheduled to begin March 29 for Chicagoans aged 16-64 with underlying medical conditions and all other essential workers.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is tentatively scheduled for May 31, during which everyone would be over 16 years old who had not previously been recommended to get vaccinated. But there is one caveat.
“I want to make it very clear that the date is totally dependent on how much vaccine we get, what changes we see from the federal government,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, Director of the Chicago Dept. of Public Health.
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COVID-19 vaccines are not currently approved for younger children. The city said they will be added when a vaccine for children is approved.
“Most people, especially those over 65, will be vaccinated in a clinical setting: through a hospital, through your own doctor’s office, possibly through a pharmacy. And more on that,” said Dr. Allison Arwady.
Officials ask providers to set priorities within each group. For people 65 and older in 1B, those 75 and older should be at the top of the list, followed by those 65 to 74 with underlying conditions, then the rest of those in the group.
“Say you’re a healthy 65-year-old, I would honestly appreciate if you might be willing to wait a few weeks,” said Dr. Arwady.
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With Chicago’s stats down, the city moved into Tier 2 mitigation measures on Monday, allowing businesses such as casinos, bowling alleys, museums and movie theaters to reopen. However, that opening is expected to take place over several days and weeks.
“We will definitely lose money,” said Chris Johnson, owner of Classic Cinemas. “In the first half of the year, when you ascend, you build an audience and get people used to going out again.”
Officials said the city could get to level 1 as early as this weekend, allowing limited indoor dining to resume as early as next week.
“We have to remain diligent, but I am optimistic that we will see indoor dining in restaurants soon,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
To learn more about the COVID-19 rollout in Chicago, visit Chicago.gov.
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