Chicago will enter Phase 1C, extending eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine to people with underlying health conditions and essential workers, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot officially announced Wednesday.
“We are here to announce that, due to the progress we have made today in the fight against COVID-19, we will be moving to Category 1C as scheduled on March 29,” said Lightfoot. “This is good news for the tens of thousands eagerly awaiting their turn to receive the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine.”
Lightfoot noted that the expansion means that within two weeks, vaccine eligibility in Chicago will expand to residents with underlying health issues and essential workers, including restaurant workers, hotel workers, hairdressers, clergy, construction workers, delivery workers, and warehouse workers, among others. . Those already eligible for Phase 1A and 1B will also remain eligible for 1C.
Click here for a full list of eligible persons
Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health, noted that only Chicago residents are eligible for city-run vaccination sites.
“I want to clarify that starting March 29, only Chicago residents can be vaccinated at City of Chicago vaccination sites,” Arwady said. “We’ve asked healthcare providers to continue to prioritize vaccination for their existing patients with the most underlying conditions, so we don’t need residency requirements to get you vaccinated with your regular doctor or when we run employer-focused vaccinations, which will likely be able to begin,” probably more severe in May. “
Arwady said the city will not enforce a residency requirement, but said for public vaccination sites “at least for the next few months, we will limit that eligibility for Chicago residents.”
However, Lightfoot noted that as eligibility increases, the number of appointments will still be limited based on the offering.
“What this shift to Stage 1C doesn’t mean is that we will have enough vaccine right away for those who qualify for the first time,” the mayor said. “We are optimistic that we will continue to see a steady stream of vaccines in March, that April will look even better, but we want to make sure we channel people’s expectations. is underway. We are expected to receive more vaccines in the course of this next phase. “
Chicago will remain under Phase 1B, which will include front-line workers and residents aged 65 and older, as well as health and long-term care workers and residents eligible for Phase 1A of the city’s rollout.
The city chose to expand into Phase 1B Plus alongside the state, making people with certain underlying medical conditions eligible due to a lack of supply.
Phase 1C would extend vaccine eligibility to all other essential workers who are not already eligible, as well as Chicagoans over the age of 16 with underlying medical conditions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Phase 1C includes:
- People aged 65-74 because they are at high risk of hospitalization, illness and death from COVID-19. People aged 65-74 who are also in long-term care facilities should be offered phase 1a vaccination.
- People aged 16-64 with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of serious, life-threatening complications from COVID-19.
- Other Essential Employees, such as those working in transportation and logistics, food service, housing and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety and public health.
However, the CDC notes that Stage 1B and Stage 1C may overlap in some cases, such as with underlying medical conditions.
Already, many residents eligible for Phase 1B Plus of the state rollout can get vaccinated at the United Center’s federally-led mass vaccination site.
“This marks a major increase in suitability,” said Arwady. “ And that means that in April and May we will focus on vaccinating people with underlying conditions and essential workers, especially those who cannot work from home, but we will continue to focus on anyone who is not yet having the vaccine in 1A or 1B, and keep making sure that when people get a two-dose series of vaccinations, they get it on time. “
For a complete list of where and how to book an appointment in Illinois or where to get vaccine information for your area, click here.