As Chicago prepares to extend vaccine eligibility to more residents, as it moves to Phase 1C later this month, who will qualify?
Phase 1C, which will begin on March 29, will include those with underlying health conditions and key workers, such as restaurant employees, personal care workers, retail workers and more, officials said on Wednesday.
But the list of underlying conditions is not the same as that used for Phase 1B Plus of the state. Vaccinations at city-run locations will also be limited to Chicago residents.
Here is a breakdown of who is and is not eligible for Phase 1C in Chicago:
Underlying medical conditions
Cancer (current diagnosis), heart, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular disorders (including heart disease, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure or hypertension), chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease (including cystic fibrosis, moderate to severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / emphysema [COPD]), Diabetes (type 1 and type 2), disability: physical, developmental, visual, auditory or mental, neurological disorders (including dementia), Down syndrome, immunocompromised state (weakened immune system), including blood transplant or bone marrow , immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or other drugs to weaken immunity, liver disease (including hepatitis), pregnancy, obesity: BMI ≥30 kg / m2, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, people with disabilities
Clergy and religious organizations
People over the age of 65; where possible, giving priority to Chicagoans aged 75 and over and Chicagoans aged 65 to 74, with basic medical conditions
Energy
Workers who support the energy sector, including those involved in the manufacture, distribution, repair of energy
Finance
Banks; foreign exchange; consumer loans; credit unions; evaluators; title companies; financial markets; financial institutions; institutions that sell financial services; accounting and insurance services
Food and beverage service
Restaurant and other facilities that prepare and serve food (including bars); entities providing food services
Higher education
Workers in educational institutions – including junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, technical schools, business schools, educational support services and education administration programs
Information and communication technology
Internet, video and telecommunications systems, consumer electronics repair, computer and office machine repair
Legal
Workers providing legal services or supporting the operations of the judiciary, including judges, lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, processing servers, couriers, bailiffs, bailiffs, probation officers, court staff and others who provide legal assistance or perform legal functions
Media
Newspapers, periodicals, television, radio and other media services, news and newsstand dealers, broadcasting, news syndicates, printing and book publishers
Other Community or government operations and essential functions
Other government employees; essential community-based functions (eg urban planning, offices that provide basic needs such as food, childcare, shelter and social services); library workers
Personal care and hygiene services
Companies that offer personal care services such as hair, nails and non-medical massage.
Laundry, dry cleaning, industrial laundry services and laundry service providers
Public health
Public health entities; pharmaceutical, medical and medical equipment companies and biotechnology companies
Public safety
Workers who ensure the proper functioning of public safety systems, including construction inspectors, civil engineers, chemical engineers, aerospace engineers and responders to hazardous materials. Workers who build and maintain roads, highways, railways and ports. Workers in cyber security operations
Retail
Retail store workers, including but not limited to shops selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, over-the-counter medicines, other non-food products (eg electronics, optical items, books, etc.), other products consumer goods, wholesalers, cannabis licensing and cultivation centers
Shelter and housing
Hardware stores and businesses; construction and maintenance of buildings, real estate; workers in hotels and motels
Transport and logistics
Gas station workers; supply and repair of cars and bicycles; businesses providing transportation and delivery services; couriers; deposits; private mail; Airline workers not included in 1b; workers in rail, water, truck, charter bus or transportation rental
Water and wastewater
Workers involved in wastewater treatment and operation; sanitary and storm maintenance crews performing emergency and essential system maintenance
Those already eligible in phases 1A and 1B will also remain eligible in 1C.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said eligibility for city-run vaccination sites will be limited to Chicago residents.
“I want to make it clear that starting March 29, only Chicago residents will be able to be vaccinated at Chicago’s vaccination sites,” Arwady said. “We have asked healthcare providers to prioritize vaccination for their existing patients who suffer from the most basic conditions, so we don’t need residency requirements for you to get vaccinated with your regular doctor or when we do vaccinations focused on employer, which will probably be able to start, probably more seriously in May “.
Arwady said the city will not force a residency requirement, but told public vaccination sites “at least in the next few months, we will limit this eligibility for Chicago residents.”
The next phase begins on March 29, but officials have warned that not all eligible people will be able to get an appointment immediately.
“What this transition to phase 1C does not mean is that we will have enough vaccine for those who are newly eligible immediately,” the mayor said. “We are optimistic that we will continue to see a steady flow of vaccines in March, that April will look even better, but we want to make sure we manage people’s expectations. It will take us some time because of the limited offer we still receive, but hope is on the way. We expect to receive more vaccines during the next phase. “
Chicago remains under Phase 1B, which includes key frontline workers and residents aged 65 and over, as well as health care workers and long-term care facility staff and residents who were eligible in Phase 1A of the city’s launch.
The city has given up expanding to Phase 1B Plus with the state, making those with certain underlying medical conditions eligible because of what it said is a shortage of supplies.
Already, many eligible residents in Phase 1B Plus of the state launch can be vaccinated at the federally administered United Center mass vaccination site.
“This marks a major increase in eligibility,” Arwady said. “And that means that in April and May, we will focus on vaccinating people with basic conditions and essential workers, especially those who cannot work from home, but we will focus on anyone who has not yet received the vaccine in 1A or 1B and continue to make sure that where people get a series of two-dose vaccines, they get it on time. “
For a full look at where you can make an appointment in Illinois or where you can get information about vaccines for your area, click here.