COVID Vaccine: Chicago Expands Phase 1C Eligibility Today With More Essential Workers, Those With Health Conditions Who Can Get Appointments

CHICAGO (WLS) – Chicago opens COVID vaccine eligibility to Phase 1C group on Monday.

The move means anyone 16 and over who has a qualifying medical condition can now book an appointment.

Other types of essential workers are also now eligible, including workers in clergy and religious organizations, energy, finance, food and beverage services, higher education, technology in life. ” information and communications, legal services, media, other community or government operations and essential functions, personal care and hygiene, public health, public safety, retail, shelter and housing, transport and logistics, water and waste.

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Also starting Monday, vaccination sites run by the city of Chicago will only schedule appointments for people who live in the city.

With the expansion to 1C, the majority of Chicago’s adult population is now eligible to be vaccinated. However, officials continue to urge patience as eligibility does not guarantee an immediate date.

Why are stocks of COVID-19 vaccines still limited?

“It took me a while,” said Michelle Gerol. “The process was a little frustrating, but once I got it it was like finding the right ticket from the Willy Wonka movie.”

Cook County has yet to announce when it will open access to those in 1C, but made 25,000 new appointments available at four of its mass vaccination sites on Sunday afternoon. Anyone eligible for Phases 1A, 1B, 1B + and approved essential workers were able to register for shooting due to new state guidelines, but those appointments were made in just under two hours.

“There were 50,000 people in the waiting room with only 2,500 vaccines,” said vaccine hunter Maria Koikas.

Koikas began helping others enroll when she saw how difficult the process was for her own parents.

“That’s a million people going for the same hot concert ticket as there are only 100,” she said.

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In the past month, Koikas has signed up nearly 300 people and it’s not over yet. Her advice is to check back often, be prepared to drop a date, and don’t give up.

For parts of Illinois outside of Chicago and Cook County, more groups may be vaccinated on Monday.

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Food and beverage workers, construction workers and religious leaders are now able to get vaccinated.

Illinois is expected to open eligibility to anyone 16 and over on April 12.

To date, two million people in Illinois, or 16% of the state’s population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The state vaccinates on average more than 99,000 people per day.

Governor JB Pritzker has said he may be forced to rethink his approach to the full reopening of the state, which he was set to start next week.