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Chicago health officials say the city could enter the next phase of its vaccine rollout by the end of the month, but who will be eligible?
The city has so far chosen not to enter Phase 1B Plus vaccinations alongside the state, which would open doses to residents with certain underlying health conditions.
Although no announcement of eligibility has been made so far, Phase 1C would likely expand vaccine eligibility to all other essential workers who are not already eligible as well as Chicagoans over the age of 18. 16 years old with underlying health problems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Phase 1C includes:
- People aged 65 to 74 because they are at high risk of hospitalization, illness and death from COVID-19. People aged 65 to 74 who also reside in long-term care facilities should be offered the vaccination during phase 1a.
- People aged 16 to 64 with underlying health problems that increase the risk of serious and life-threatening complications from COVID-19.
- Other essential workers, such as those working in transportation and logistics, food services, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety and security. public health.
The CDC notes, however, that Phase 1B and Phase 1C may overlap in some cases, such as underlying medical conditions.
Chicago remains under Phase 1B, which includes essential workers and frontline residents aged 65 and over, as well as healthcare workers and long-term care facility staff and residents who were eligible for the phase 1A of the city’s deployment.
Although the city chose not to move to Phase 1B Plus, Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said if Chicago received “a lot more vaccines” in March, it is possible. that authorities begin to vaccinate people with underlying illnesses before entering. Phase 1C.
Already, many residents eligible for Phase 1B Plus of the state’s deployment can get vaccinated at the federally-run United Center mass vaccination site.
Chicago health officials previously announced that the city has targeted an estimated start date for the next phase, Phase 1C, which will begin on March 29.
Arwady said the city could start these vaccinations at an earlier date if the city saw an increase in available doses, but noted the city remained on track to enter Phase 1C at the end of March.
“We will make adjustments to this [date] like we’ve always done, because we see how the vaccine doses come in, ”Arwady said. But honestly, the way [vaccines have] I expected them to arrive. March will be much better than February for vaccines. And I think April will be a lot better than March. ”
Arwady said Phase 1C would likely start March 29 and Phase 2, which includes all residents over 16, could begin May 31.
“It might be sooner than expected, but this timeline that we’ve set actually continues to look pretty consistent with our numbers,” Arwady said. “If you remember correctly, we really said that the end of March, March 29, was where we assumed we might be at some point in order to be able to move forward in 1C and then it’s at. at the end of May that we might be able to move. before phase 2 and I haven’t seen anything that really suggests major and major differences from that. ”
To find out where and how to make an appointment in Illinois or where you can receive vaccine information for your area, click here.
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