The city is expected to announce the start date of its next vaccination phase on March 29. In 1C, more essential workers are eligible, including those in hospitality. construction, law, banks and media, as well as 16- to 64-year-old Chicagoans with serious health problems.
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“Generally speaking, if you have an underlying disease, you can get a vaccine in April or May,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
During her regular live broadcast on Tuesday, Dr. Arwady also made it clear that the elderly will remain the city’s priority until the end of this month, but she believes that as vaccine supplies increase, the city will now is in a position to open consultations for a wider segment of the population.
1C is the last priority group before vaccinations open to the general population.
This expansion is being announced only for Chicago residents. Collar counties have not yet made their own decisions on the matter.
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“As we have a vaccine available, it is clear that we will open appointments to other groups,” said Cook County Council President Toni Preckwinkle.
There is still no significant increase in federal vaccine deliveries. Next week’s combined allocation for Illinois and Chicago is just 1% higher than this week’s and 8% higher than last week’s deliveries, according to CDC data.
Meanwhile, Governor JB Pritzker has released new plans for a phased reopening in Illinois.
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The governor is considering relaxing the restrictions, including increasing the current limit of 50 people to meetings in event spaces.
The governor could also approve conventions, reduce restaurant spacing requirements and include the community’s vaccination rate in reopening metrics, as requested by the mayors of the suburbs.
“It provides hope for people to be able to look at something and say that if we move to this level, we will have it now,” said Darien Mayor Joseph Marches.
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