Phase 1A
Chicago is currently in Phase 1A of the plan, with health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities and staff eligible for vaccination.
Phase 1B
Phase 1B is set to begin Jan. 25, with Chicagoans over the age of 65, non-nursing residential settings, including homeless shelters and essential front-line workers. Key frontline workers include grocery store workers, manufacturers, childcare, K-12 workers and early education, public transport, agricultural workers, government continuity and postal workers.
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The city expects most people in phase 1B to be vaccinated in February and March.
IC phase
Phase 1C is tentatively scheduled to begin March 29 for Chicagoans between the ages of 16 and 64, with underlying medical conditions and all other essential workers.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is tentatively scheduled for May 31, which would include all those over the age of 16 who were not previously recommended to be vaccinated. But there is a warning.
“I want to make it very clear that the date depends entirely on how much vaccine we get, what changes we see from the federal government,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
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COVID-19 vaccines are not currently licensed for younger children. The city said they will be added when a vaccine is approved for children.
“Most people, especially those over the age of 65, will be vaccinated in a clinical setting: through a hospital, through the doctor’s own office, potentially through a pharmacy. And there will be more to follow,” he said. said Dr. Allison Arwady.
Officials ask suppliers to prioritize within each group. For persons aged 65 and over in 1B: persons over 75 years of age should be at the top of the list, followed by persons aged 65 to 74 with basic conditions and then the rest group.
“Say you’re a healthy 65-year-old man, honestly, I’d appreciate it if you’d be willing to wait a few weeks,” Dr. Arwady said.
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With Chicago’s decline, the city moved to level 2 mitigation levels on Monday, allowing companies such as casinos, bowling alleys, museums and cinemas to reopen. However, this opening is expected to take place in a few days and weeks.
“We’re definitely going to lose money you know,” said Chris Johnson, owner of Classic Cinemas. “In the first half of the year, grow up, build an audience and get people used to coming out again.”
Officials said the city could drop to level 1 this weekend, allowing the restoration of the limited interior table immediately after next week.
“We must remain diligent, but I am optimistic that we will see meals inside restaurants relatively quickly,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
For more information on launching Chicago COVID-19, visit Chicago.gov.
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