COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will now not be extended to Cook County and Chicago, despite Governor JB Pritzker’s plan to add people under 65 with medical conditions on Feb. 25.
There are not enough vaccines for those who currently meet the requirements without adding a million more people to the list, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle said in a statement. set.
“Our goal is to vaccinate as many people as quickly and effectively as possible,” Lightfoot and Preckwinkle said in the statement. “That said, our biggest challenge in doing so is the very limited supply of vaccines we receive. Although we progress every day with vaccinating people in 1a and 1b, we are not currently supplied with enough doses to allow to expand eligibility in these phases. “
The state began vaccinating workers and health care workers in long-term care facilities, Phase 1A, in December.
The second wave, Phase 1B, of people over 65 and essential front-line workers began on January 26th.
Both releases have been hampered by delays in vaccination, as well as confusion, especially for the elderly, about how to get appointments.
The proposed expansion would make more than a million people more eligible in the suburban counties of Cook and Chicago, according to Lightfoot and Preckwinkle.
“The result would be that those who are currently eligible, including the elderly, front-line essential workers and those in our most COVID-laden communities, will have even more difficulty getting a vaccine,” they said.
Pritzker said Wednesday that it is possible to expand vaccines to people with underlying medical conditions, such as cancer, due to the increased dose supply under the new administration of President Joseph Biden.
“As soon as we receive the sufficient supply of vaccines, we must not waste time in protecting a wider part of our most vulnerable population,” Pritzker said. “Children under the age of 65 who live with comorbidities, such as cancer survivors or those with heart disease, have a high risk of serious complications or death if they contract COVID-19.”
He also said that people with disabilities would be prioritized.
Lightfoot and Preckwinkle said the change is going too fast.
“These phases were established after careful study and consideration and are based on the orientation of disease control and prevention centers,” they said. “We recognize that the governor must make difficult decisions and consider the needs in this diverse state, but given the limited supply of vaccines, we must also make difficult decisions as leaders of the most populous city and county in the world. expanding eligibility as vaccine supply improves “.