Illinois and Chicago will enter the next phase of their vaccination plan starting Monday, but not everyone eligible in the phase will receive the vaccine right at the start, officials said Friday.
Phase 1b, which includes approximately 3.2 million residents, centers for residents aged 65 and over and “essential front-line workers”, including first responders, education workers such as teachers and support staff, childcare, grocery store employees, postal service workers and more.
Governor JB Pritzker said that while the state still intends to enter the phase that begins Monday, there will be limitations based on the amount of vaccine the state receives.
“This does not mean, however, that you will immediately be able to get the vaccine as easily as you can get the flu vaccine,” Pritzker said. “Because federal vaccine production has been hampered by the previous administration’s failure to properly invoke the Defense Production Act, vaccine supplies are still limited across the country. There are additional vaccines underway that could require FDA approval soon. and that will help But there are 3.2 million Illinoisans in Phase 1B, so there will be a much higher demand than supply in the near term – to put it in perspective, we expect about 126,000 first doses to arrive outside next week 4 percent of the population of 1B. Until the vaccine supply improves, we will all have to be patient. ”
Pritzker said the state is working to strengthen capacity and hopes to see an increase in doses in the coming weeks.
Starting Jan. 25, National Guard-led sites will vaccinate eligible Phase 1b residents, as well as sites at CVS, Jewel Osco and Walgreens, Pritzker said. There are six vaccination sites in Cook County, equipped by the National Guard, with 24 additional teams that will be deployed in the next three weeks.
Until Feb. 1, other pharmacies, including Hy-Vee, Mariano’s and Kroger, will also begin vaccinations, Pritzker said.
“Due to the limited supply, I want to emphasize again that vaccinations will only be given on schedule, so please do not try to line up at the store or call your local pharmacy. When we receive a steady stream of vaccines from the federal government, we will launch incoming locations and non-stop operations, “Pritzker said.
Illinois health officials announced Friday the launch of a nationwide registration for coronavirus vaccination on their website.
“As we increase our ability to make the vaccine widely available, we will launch a nationwide website to provide more information so you can set up a meeting to get your vaccine,” Pritzker said Friday.
While residents can already access the state’s coronavirus website, appointments are not yet available. Once appointments become available, residents can access a link that takes them to their local health care provider to coordinate when and where to receive the vaccine, officials said.
Pritzker noted that some pharmacies, such as Walgreens, already have a live online programming site, and others are expected to follow soon.
In Chicago, there are four ways residents can be vaccinated, the city’s chief doctor said this week.
Chicago Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Allison Arwady said the options include through a medical system or health care provider, through pharmacies, through a dedicated vaccination location, such as distribution points or through an employer.
While anyone who qualifies for the next phase vaccine is eligible to receive it, phase 1b in Chicago aims to prioritize certain populations, Arwady said.
“So from the very beginning I want people to hear that even as the phase opens, most people will not be able to get the vaccine right away in the first week, even in the second week, etc.,” Arwady said, adding that hopes to vaccinate most people in phase 1b by February and March.
For those who receive the vaccine through the city, there will be priority for those at highest risk and to help “reduce barriers,” Arwady said.
“The way this will generally unfold is that in February and March, anyone who is either 65 years old or these essential front-line workers is eligible for the vaccine,” said Arwady. “And so, for example, if I am a worker in a grocery store or I am a teacher or I work in public transport and I have an appointment with my doctor, for example, my doctor can give me a vaccine at any time after January. 25, but we will also work to bring the vaccine to employers, to partner with employers to reduce the barriers imposed on these groups to be vaccinated. ”
At the beginning of phase 1B, the city intends to direct the vaccine to the correctional facilities and the first interventions.
“This has already been working, because we have vaccinated health workers in these settings, whether they are employees of emergency medical services on ambulances, whether they are people in the correctional environment who do medical care,” Arwady said. . “So the plans are in place and, in addition, more workers will come online. These are the settings where we have seen the most COVID cases, the most outbreaks. Each case we prevent in these settings indirectly prevents many other cases, helps us past COVID, reduces the risk when people return to communities, really essential to be vaccinated those workers. “
In February, depending on the availability of vaccines, the city will then make the vaccines available to employers of workers in grocery stores and factories and factories.
After that, later in February, the city intends to target the vaccine to employers and educators.
“From 12 to 12 years old, early childhood educators, the private parish public – it doesn’t matter. All educators will be a priority with planning a little later in February,” Arwady said. “And this is well underway right now.”
Arwady said it would take several weeks for each group to be vaccinated.
In March, again depending on the availability of vaccines, vaccines are extended to employers of public transport workers, agricultural workers, government workers, postal workers and more.
Although Illinois has not yet set dates for future vaccination phases, Chicago officials said Phase 1c could come in late 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 start offering any “remaining dose” of coronavirus vaccines to people over the age of 65 living or working in Chicago in what has been described as a modified phase of the plan. vaccination of the city.
Chicago officials say the best way to get vaccination launch updates is through the “Chi COVID Coach,” a platform the Chicago Department of Public Health uses to monitor symptoms, provide information about testing in the city and help you get the latest details about the city’s vaccination plan – including notification when you can register to get vaccinated.
You can sign up for Chi COVID Coach here.
As of Wednesday night, 572,389 coronavirus vaccines had been administered in Illinois, including 90,752 for long-term care units, according to the state health department. On Wednesday, a total of 34,649 doses were administered.
Here’s a look at who will be included in phase 1b:
- Residents over the age of 65
- Frontline essential workers, which means “residents who are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to their workloads, often because they cannot work from home and / or have to work closely with others without being able to distance themselves social This includes:
- First respondents: Fires, law enforcement, 911 workers, security personnel, school officers
- Education: Teachers, principals, student assistance, student aid, day caregiver
- Food and agriculture: Processing, plants, veterinary health, animal husbandry services, animal care
- Manufacturing: Industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale or other products
- Correctional workers and detainees: Prison officers, staff for juvenile facilities, workers providing personal support, detainees
- USPS workers
- Public transport workers: Flight crew, bus drivers, train conductors, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, personal assistance, travel sharing services
- Grocery store workers: Baggers, cashiers, stocks, pick-ups, customer service
- Shelters and day care staff: Shelter without shelter, shelter for women, day for adults / dropout program, sheltered workshop, psycho-social rehabilitation