Illinois and Chicago will enter the next phase of their vaccination plan starting on Monday, but not all eligible people in the phase will receive the vaccine early, officials said on Friday.
Phase 1b, which includes some 3.2 million residents, focuses on residents aged 65 and over and “essential frontline workers”, including first responders, educators such as teachers and support staff, daycare centers, staff supermarkets, postal workers and more.
Governor JB Pritzker said that while the state still plans to enter the phase as of Monday, there will be limitations based on the amount of vaccine the state receives.
“That does not mean, however, that you will be able to get the vaccine as easily as you can get the flu vaccine,” said Pritzker. “As federal vaccine production was hampered by the failure of the previous administration to properly invoke the Defense Production Act, vaccine supply is still limited across the country. There are additional vaccines underway that may soon seek FDA approval. , and that will help. But there are 3.2 million Illinoisans in Phase 1B, so there will be much more demand than supply in the short term – to put it in perspective, we expect approximately 126,000 first doses to arrive next week outside of Chicago. less than 4 percent of the 1B population. Until the vaccine supply improves, we will all need to be patient. ”
Pritzker said the state is working to increase capacity and expects to see an increase in doses in the coming weeks.
Beginning January 25, National Guard-led sites will be vaccinating residents eligible for Phase 1b, as well as CVS, Jewel Osco and Walgreens sites, Pritzker said. There are six vaccination sites in Cook County with National Guard staff, with an additional 24 teams being deployed in the next three weeks.
On February 1, other pharmacies, including Hy-Vee, Mariano’s and Kroger, will also start vaccinating, said Pritzker.
“Because of supply limitations, I want to emphasize again that vaccinations will only be given by appointment, so please don’t try to line up at the store or call your local pharmacy. When we have a steady stream of vaccine coming in from the federal government , we will launch transit locations and uninterrupted operations, “said Pritzker.
Illinois health officials announced on Friday the launch of a statewide addition to the coronavirus vaccination appointment on their website.
“As we increase the ability to make the vaccine widely available, we will launch a state website to provide more information so that you can make an appointment to get vaccinated,” said Pritzker on Friday.
Although residents can now access the state’s coronavirus website, consultations are not yet available. Once consultations are 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 consultation website, and others are expected to appear soon.
In Chicago, there are four ways that residents can be vaccinated, the city’s top doctor said this week.
Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the options include through a medical system or health care provider, through pharmacies, through a dedicated vaccination site, such as dismissal, or through an employer.
While anyone who qualifies for the vaccine in the next phase is eligible to receive it, Phase 1b in Chicago aims to prioritize certain populations, said Arwady.
“So from the beginning, I want people to hear that, even with the opening of the phase, most people will not be able to get the vaccine immediately in that first week, or the second week, etc.,” said Arwady, adding who waits for most people in Phase 1b to be vaccinated during February and March.
For those who receive the vaccine across the city, priority will be given to those at greater risk and to help “lower barriers,” said Arwady.
“The way this is going to play out is that during the months of February and March, anyone who is 65 years old or on these essential frontline workers is eligible for the vaccine,” said Arwady. “And then, for example, if I am a grocery worker or teacher or I work in public transport and I have an appointment with my doctor, for example, my doctor can absolutely give me a vaccine anytime after January 25, but we will also be working to get the vaccine to employers, partnering with employers to reduce barriers for these groups to get the vaccine. ”
At the start of Phase 1B, the city plans to target the vaccine to correctional units and first responders.
“This is already underway because we are vaccinating health professionals in these locations, whether they are people from the emergency medical service in ambulances, or those in correctional facilities that provide health care,” said Arwady. . “So, the plans are in place and, moreover, more workers will be online. These are the settings where we saw most of the COVID cases, the most outbreaks. Each case we avoid in these settings indirectly avoids many other cases, takes us past COVID , decreases the risk when people are returning to communities, really essential to vaccinate these workers. “
In February, depending on the availability of the vaccine, the city will make the vaccines available to employers of grocery workers and manufacturing and factory establishments.
After that, in late February, the city plans to target the vaccine to daycare employers and educators.
“K to 12, early childhood educators, private parish public – it doesn’t matter. All educators will be prioritized with planning a little later in February,” said Arwady. “And that is well underway now.”
Arwady said it will take weeks for each group to be vaccinated.
Going into March, again depending on the availability of the vaccine, vaccines expand to employers of public transport workers, agricultural workers, government officials, postal workers and more.
Although Illinois has yet to set dates for future phases of the vaccine, Chicago officials said that Phase 1c could happen in late March and Phase 2, which includes all residents over 16, could begin on 31 December. May.
Earlier this week, healthcare professionals were allowed to start offering any “left over doses” of coronavirus vaccines to people over 65 who live or work in Chicago, in what has been described as a modified phase of the plan vaccination program in the city.
Chicago officials say the best way to get updates on vaccination implementation is through the “Chi COVID Coach”, a platform that the Chicago Department of Public Health is using to monitor symptoms, providing information about tests in the city and help you get the latest details about the city’s vaccination plan – including notifying you when you can register to receive the vaccine.
You can sign up for the Chi COVID Coach here.
As of Wednesday night, 572,389 coronavirus vaccines were administered in Illinois, including 90,752 for long-term care facilities, according to the state health department. On Wednesday, a total of 34,649 doses were administered.
Here is a look at who will be included in Phase 1b:
- Residents aged 65 and over
- Essential frontline workers, meaning “residents who are at increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 because of their work obligations, usually because they cannot work from home and / or must work close to other people without being able to work. distance socially. This includes:
- First responders: Firefighters, police, 911 workers, security personnel, school officials
- Education: Teachers, principals, student support, student assistants, day care worker
- Food and Agriculture: Processing, plants, veterinary health, livestock services, animal care
- Manufacture: Industrial production of goods for distribution to retail, wholesale or other manufacturers
- Correctional and prison staff: Prison officers, youth institution workers, personal support workers, inmates
- USPS workers
- Public transport workers: Flight crew, bus drivers, train drivers, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, personal support, ride sharing services
- Grocery workers: Baggers, cashiers, stockists, pickup, customer service
- Shelter and daycare staff: Homeless shelter, women’s shelter, adult day / drop-in program, sheltered workshop, psychosocial rehabilitation