Illinois and Chicago will both enter the next phase of their vaccination plan starting Monday, but not everyone eligible for the phase will get the vaccine right at the start, officials said Friday.
Phase 1b, which includes approximately 3.2 million residents, targets residents 65 and older and “ frontline essential workers, ” including first responders, educators such as teachers and support staff, childcare workers, grocery store employees, mail carriers, and more.
Gov. JB Pritzker said while the state still plans to enter the phase from Monday, there will be restrictions based on how much vaccine the state receives.
“However, this doesn’t mean that you can get the vaccine right away as easily as the flu shot,” said Pritzker. Because federal vaccine production was hampered by the previous administration’s failure to properly invoke the Defense Production Act, the supply of vaccines across the country is still limited. But there are 3.2 million Illinoisans in phase. 1B, so there will be a lot more demand than supply in the short term. To put it in perspective, we expect about 126,000 first doses outside of Chicago next week. That’s less than 4 percent of the 1B population. Until the vaccine supply improves. we will all have to be patient. ”
Pritzker said the state is working to build capacity and hopes to increase doses in the coming weeks.
Starting Jan. 25, National Guard-led sites will vaccinate residents eligible for Phase 1b, as well as sites at CVS, Jewel Osco and Walgreens, Pritzker said. There are six vaccination sites in Cook County that are manned by the National Guard, and 24 additional teams will be deployed over the next three weeks.
By Feb. 1, additional pharmacies, including Hy-Vee, Mariano’s and Kroger, will also begin vaccinations, Pritzker said.
“Due to supply restrictions, I would like to reiterate that vaccinations are given by appointment only, so please try not to queue at the store or call your local pharmacy. If there is a steady stream of vaccines coming in from the federal government. we will launch walk-in sites and start operations 24 hours a day, ”said Pritzker.
Illinois health officials announced on Friday the launch of a statewide addition to their website for signing up for coronavirus vaccination.
“As we increase the capacity to make vaccine widely available, we will launch a statewide website with more information so you can schedule an appointment to get vaccinated,” Pritzker said Friday.
Although residents already have access to the state’s coronavirus website, there are no arrangements yet. Once appointments are available, residents will have access to a link that will take them to their local healthcare provider to coordinate when and where they can receive the vaccine, officials said.
Pritzker noted that some pharmacies, such as Walgreens, already have an online appointment website, while others are expected to follow soon.
In Chicago, there are four ways residents can get vaccinated, the city’s top doctor said this week.
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health, said options include through a medical system or a health care provider, through pharmacies, through a dedicated vaccination site such as dispensing points, or through an employer.
While anyone who qualifies for the vaccine in the next phase is eligible to receive it, Chicago’s Phase 1b wants to prioritize certain populations, Arwady said.
“So from the outset, I want people to hear that even when the phase comes, most people won’t be able to get the vaccine right away that first week, even that second week, etc.,” Arwady said, adding that she hopes. to have most people vaccinated in phase 1b through February and March.
For those getting the vaccine through the city, priority will be given to those at highest risk and to “lower barriers,” Arwady said.
“The way this will be broadly rolled out is that in the months of February and March, anyone who is 65 or these key frontline workers will be eligible for vaccination,” Arwady said. “And so, for example, if I am a grocery store clerk or I am a teacher or I work on public transportation, and I have an appointment with my doctor, for example, my doctor can absolutely give me a vaccine anytime after Jan. 25 , but we will also work to bring vaccine to employers, to work with employers to lower barriers for these groups to receive vaccine. ”
At the start of Phase 1B, the city plans to send the vaccine to correctional facilities and emergency responders.
“This is already in the works because we have been vaccinating health workers in those settings, be it the people in the emergency medical services in the ambulances, or the people in the correctional facilities that provide health care,” Arwady said. “So, the plans are in order and moreover more workers will come online. These are the settings where we have seen the most COVID cases, the most outbreaks. Every instance that we occur in these settings indirectly prevents many other cases,” gets our past COVID, lowers the risk when people go back to communities, really essential to get those workers vaccinated. “
In February, depending on the availability of vaccines, the city will move to making vaccines available to employers of supermarket workers and manufacturing and factory facilities.
Then, later in February, the city plans to provide vaccinations to daycare employers and educators.
“K through 12, preschool educators, private parochial audience – doesn’t matter. All educators are prioritized in planning a little later in February,” Arwady said. “And that is well on its way at the moment.”
Arwady said it will take weeks to get each group vaccinated.
Heading into March, again subject to vaccine availability, the vaccines will expand to employers of public transportation workers, agricultural workers, government workers, postmen and more.
While Illinois has not yet set dates for future vaccine phases, Chicago officials said Phase 1c could come by the end of March and Phase 2, which includes all residents over the age of 16, could begin on May 31.
Earlier this week, health care providers were allowed to begin offering “leftover doses” of coronavirus vaccines to people over 65 living or working in Chicago in what has been described as a modified phase of the city’s vaccination plan.
Chicago officials say the best way to get updates on vaccine rollouts is through “ Chi COVID Coach, ” a platform that the Chicago Department of Public Health uses to monitor symptoms, provide information about city testing and help you get the latest details on the city’s vaccination plan – including notification when you can register to get your vaccine.
You can sign up for Chi COVID Coach here.
According to the state’s health department, 572,389 coronavirus vaccines had been administered in Illinois on Wednesday evening, including 90,752 for long-term care facilities. A total of 34,649 doses were administered on Wednesday.
Here is an overview of who will be included in phase 1b:
- Residents aged 65 and over
- Primary care workers, meaning “residents who are at higher risk for COVID-19 exposure because of their work duties, often because they cannot work from home, and / or they must work closely with others without being able to distance themselves socially. contains:
- First responders: Fire brigade, police, emergency number, security personnel, school officers
- Education: Teachers, school principals, student counseling, student resources, childcare
- Food and agriculture: Processing, plants, veterinary health, animal husbandry, animal care
- Manufacturing: Industrial production of goods for distribution to retailers, wholesalers or other manufacturers
- Corrections workers and prisoners: Prison officers, juvenile detention staff, personal support workers, inmates
- USPS employees
- Public transport employees: Flight crew, bus drivers, train drivers, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, personal support, ride sharing services
- Supermarket employees: Baggers, cashiers, stockers, pick-up, customer service
- Shelters and nursery: Homeless shelters, women’s shelters, adult day / walk-in program, sheltered workplace, psychosocial rehab