Chicago will enter Phase 1C of the COVID vaccination in late March, expanding eligibility for essential workers such as waiters, bartenders, hairdressers and more, along with residents with underlying health problems.
But who exactly is eligible and how can you apply?
Here is everything we know so far.
When does phase 1C start?
Phase 1C, scheduled to start on March 29, officials announced on Wednesday.
Who is eligible?
Here is a list of who is and who is not eligible for Phase 1C in Chicago:
Underlying medical conditions
Cancer (current diagnosis), heart, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (including heart disease, coronary artery disease and hypertension or high blood pressure), chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory diseases (including cystic fibrosis, moderate to severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung disease chronic obstructive / emphysema [COPD]), Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), Disability: physical, developmental, visual, auditory or mental, Neurological conditions (including dementia), Down syndrome, Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system), including blood or bone marrow transplant , immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or use of other medications to weaken the immune system, 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 aged 65 and over; whenever possible, prioritizing citizens of Chicago aged 75 or over and citizens aged 65 to 74 with underlying medical conditions
Energy
Workers supporting the energy sector, including those involved in the manufacture, distribution and repair of energy
Finance
Banks; currency exchange; consumer loans; credit unions; evaluators; title companies; financial markets; Financial Institution; institutions that sell financial services; accounting services and insurance services
Food and drink service
Restaurant and other facilities that prepare and serve food (including bars); entities providing food services
University education
Educational institution workers – including junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, technical schools, business schools, educational support services and educational program administration
Information and communications technology
Internet, video and telecommunications systems, consumer electronics repair, computer and office machine repair
Legal
Workers who provide legal services or support the operations of the judicial system, including judges, lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, process servers, messengers, bail officers, probation officers, probation offices, court officials and others who provide legal assistance or perform legal functions
media
Newspapers, periodicals, television, radio and other media services, news dealers and newsstands, broadcasting, news unions, printing and book publishers
Other community-based or government-based operations and essential functions
Other civil servants; essential community-based functions (for example, urban planning, offices that provide basic needs such as food, day care, shelter and social services); library workers
Personal hygiene and hygiene services
Companies that provide personal care services such as hair, nails and non-medical massage.
Laundromats, laundromats, industrial laundry services and laundry service providers
Public health
Public health entities; pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology companies
Public security
Workers who ensure the proper functioning of public safety systems, including construction inspectors, civil engineers, chemical engineers, aerospace engineers and respondents for hazardous materials. Workers who build and maintain roads, highways, railways and ports. Cyber security operations workers
Retail
Retail store workers, including, without limitation, stores that sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, non-prescription drugs, other non-grocery products (e.g. electronics, optical products, books, etc.), other products households, wholesalers, licensed marijuana dispensaries and growing centers
Shelter and housing
Hardware stores and businesses; construction and maintenance of buildings, real estate; hotel and motel workers
Transportation and logistics
Gas station workers; supply and repair of automobiles and bicycles; companies that provide shipping and delivery services; mail; warehouses; private mail; Airline workers not included in 1b; rail, water, truck, charter bus or vehicle hire workers
Water and sewage
Workers involved in wastewater treatment and operations; storm and sanitary maintenance teams performing emergency and essential system maintenance
Those already qualified in Phases 1A and 1B will also remain qualified in 1C.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady noted that eligibility at city-administered vaccination sites will be limited to Chicago residents only.
How can you make an appointment?
Authorities are offering vaccines through Zocdoc. Residents can visit zocdoc.com/vaccine to confirm eligibility, view nearby vaccination locations, show availability of appointments in real time, and receive notifications when new appointments are available.
The city also says that consultations can be made through certain employers, local health care providers and local pharmacies.
For a complete list of ways to make an appointment in Chicago, click here.
Still, the authorities warned that not all eligible people will be able to make an appointment immediately.
“My concern, you know, when we open, is that immediately people will magically think that there is a large stock that starts on March 29 – and there isn’t,” said Arwady. “But we will have received enough vaccine up to that point, you know, the vast majority – about three-quarters of the people who would be eligible for 1B. We know that we have vaccinated non-Chicago residents as well, and both sides are looking good in in terms of the ability to really improve. So I know a lot of people are looking forward to being vaccinated and I also know that April will probably be frustrating for some of them, especially in early April, but in late April, you know, and in May I really I think we’ll be at a point that will start to feel more like a typical flu shot. “
For a complete view of where and how you can make an appointment in Illinois or where you can receive information about vaccines for your area, click here.