Cook County will extend COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to Phase 1B Plus starting next week, the health department announced Wednesday.
Starting Monday, coronavirus vaccine doses will be opened to residents with certain medical conditions and high-risk comorbidities, according to Illinois guidelines.
The list of high-risk medical conditions that meet the requirements of Phase 1B Plus includes:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Diabetes
- Heart condition
- Immunocompromised state from a solid organ transplant
- To smoke
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Lung disease
- Sickle cell disease
The health department said all Cook County suburban vaccine providers were asked to expand to Phase 1B Plus on Monday, as well as to the county’s mass vaccination sites.
Cook County Health will open new coronavirus vaccine appointments Friday at noon, the department announced. Illinois residents eligible for the next vaccination phase can register here.
Illinois opened vaccine eligibility for Phase 1B Plus in February, and Chicago and some suburbs in the vicinity chose not to participate in the increase, alleging a lack of dose.
Gov. JB Pritzker noted that people eligible in Illinois in the extended phase will not have to prove they have a high-risk medical condition, although many are likely to receive the vaccine from their primary care physicians.
The expansion applies to those over the age of 16 who were not otherwise covered in previous eligibility categories, the state said, adding that it plans to work with local health departments and other providers in as eligibility increases.
For a full view of where and how you can make an appointment in Illinois or where you can get information about vaccines in your area, click here.