COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
Dear neighbor,
I’m reaching out today to share some updates on the covid-19 vaccine rollout. With more vaccines on the way from the Federal Government, Chicago will be moving into a new vaccination phase at the end of the month.
I’m also working with our local offices and community partners to push for more vaccination sites to open on the Northwest Side, where many of our neighbors have been hard hit by the pandemic.
And we're leading a group of volunteers to help vulnerable populations schedule appointments. Click here to volunteer with us in that effort >>
Below I’ve outlined where the vaccine rollout is at in Chicago, where we’re headed, and how you can find a vaccine appointment. It’s important to remember that Chicago is on a different vaccine schedule compared to the State and the County.
While the State plans to expand vaccine eligibility to anyone over the age of 16 on April 12, the City of Chicago has not adopted this policy, due to limited vaccine availability. It’s our understanding that the City will follow suit and once they have the capacity to do so.
Who’s eligible to schedule a vaccine appointment in Chicago right now?
Right now, Chicago is in Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout. This means that anyone who is over the age of 65, or who’s an essential worker, can get vaccinated.
In addition, certain communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic have been prioritized for vaccination under the city’s “Protect Chicago Plus” program. In our District, Belmont Cragin is a Protect Chicago Plus community. This means there will be additional vaccine opportunities for folks who live in Belmont Cragin. If that’s you, please call our office at (773) 853-2570 to learn more about your vaccination options.
When will Chicago expand its vaccine eligibility?On March 29, Chicago will enter Phase 1C of its vaccination program. Many folks across our city will become eligible for vaccination under this phase, including those who work in restaurants, bars, barbershops, nail salons, retail, and more. Chicagoans aged 16-64 with underlying medical conditions will also be able to schedule vaccine appointments.
It’s important to keep in mind that there won’t be enough vaccines for everyone eligible in Phase 1C to request an appointment right away. The City has stated they hope to have enough vaccines to accommodate everyone included in Phase 1C later this Spring. This of course depends on the Federal supply of vaccines that are made available to the City.
How can I make a vaccine appointment?
There are currently four ways to schedule a vaccine appointment in Chicago. You can contact your healthcare provider, your pharmacy, your employer, or search for an appointment on Zocdoc.
Additional vaccine appointments will become available at the United Center on a rolling basis. Right now, the City of Chicago is prioritizing folks who live on the Southwest side of the city, and seniors who are 65+. You can visit CDPH’s website to get up to date information on the United Center vaccination site.
For more local vaccine options, seniors and frontline essential workers can call Humboldt Park Health at (312) 824-6786 to request an appointment. Seniors can also contact Oak Street Health at (888) 386-1396 for an appointment.
If you’d like to be put on a vaccine waitlist to be notified when more vaccine options become available on the Northwest Side, please let us know by replying to this email or calling our office at (773) 853-2570.
At this point in time, Illinois has administered over 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is such positive news after a year fighting this pandemic. It’s important that we all do our part to make our community safe by getting vaccinated when it’s our turn. If you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine rollout, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. We’re here to help.
Take care,
- Will
