Health officials say they still don’t have enough doses for everyone who wants them. They are telling people to be patient.
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“Opening vaccine eligibility to all adults in Chicago is another important milestone in our goal of vaccinating everyone and moving from the pandemic to reopening our city safely,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot . “I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and everyone who wants a vaccine will get one, but I want to remind people to have patience to get an appointment, as our supply of vaccines is still very limited.”
Any Chicago resident who is 16 years of age or older can search for appointments at zocdoc.com/vaccine or the Chicago COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, as well as calling the city’s COVID-19 helpline at (312) 746 -4835. Vaccines are also available at Costco, CVS, Jewel Osco, Mariano’s and Walgreens pharmacies.
“I am encouraged by our increase in vaccination rates, but we also continue to see a slow and persistent increase in COVID-19 case counts, especially among Chicago youth,” said Allison Arwady, MD, commissioner of the Department of Chicago Public Health. “As we expand eligibility, we can increase vaccination for younger populations to curb the spread of the virus. Hopefully, it will increase our supply of federal government vaccines. We will continue to rapidly use every dose we receive.”
At the Erie Family Health Centers clinic in West Town, demand for the vaccine is only growing.
“I’m thinking about my family. Be safe for them and also for the place where I work right now,” said Gloria Herrera, the vaccine recipient.
Now that Herrera has the first dose, she wanted to get a date for her 16-year-old daughter, and she is not alone.
When Chicago joins the rest of Illinois in extending vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 years of age or older, Erie Family Health Centers listen to parents.
“Our Pfizer sites are full this week, so 16- and 17-year-olds should receive Pfizer. That’s what they’ve approved so far and all the sites we have Pfizer are already full this week, said Dr. Sara Naureckas, medical director. of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Erie Health Family.
The move to universal adult eligibility comes when Chicago reaches a milestone: more than half of city residents 18 years of age or older have received at least one dose.
“All adults are eligible. And it’s my expectation as we start getting more vaccines, there will be more and more people, including younger people,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
The timing of the spread of the vaccine is crucial, as young adults are driving the recent rise in infections.
“Over the last month or so we’ve really seen those teenagers, those types of groups 16 to 18 to 29 years old who have really been affecting the pandemic,” said Dr. Michael Angarone, a specialist in infectious diseases in Northwestern medicine. .
Although there has been anecdotal evidence, many of these adolescents and young adults may be more reluctant than other groups to get vaccinated, this has not been the case at Erie Family Health Centers.
“And when I see the kids for their checks, they ask me how they can get it. We have people calling and making an appointment with us,” Naureckas said.
Although all children under the age of 16 are already eligible, Erie Family Health Centers said they will continue their outreach to some of the eligible people in Phase 1B and 1C.
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