As Chicago prepares to expand vaccine eligibility to more residents as it moves into Phase 1C later this month, who will qualify?
Phase 1C, which will begin on March 29, will include those with underlying health conditions and essential workers such as restaurant employees, personal care workers, retail workers and more, officials announced Wednesday.
But the list of underlying conditions is not the same as that used for Phase 1B Plus of the state. Vaccinations at city-managed sites will also be limited to Chicago residents.
The following is a breakdown of who is and is not eligible for Phase 1C in Chicago:
Underlying medical conditions
Cancer (current diagnosis), heart, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular disorders (including heart disease, coronary artery disease, and hypertension or high blood pressure), chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disorders (including cystic fibrosis, moderate to severe asthma, fibrosis) pulmonary, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 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 transplant or bone marrow, immunological deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or use of other drugs to weaken immunity, liver disease (including hepatitis), pregnancy, obesity: BMI ≥30 kg / m2, disorders of the spectrum of schizophrenia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, people with disabilities
Clergy and religious organizations
People aged 65 or over; as far as possible, prioritizing children aged 75 and over and children aged 65 to 74 with underlying medical conditions
Energy
Workers who support the energy sector, including those involved in the manufacture, distribution and repair of energy
Finance
Benches; currency exchanges; consumer loans; credit unions; appraisers; titular companies; financial markets; financial institutions; 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 that provide food services
Higher education
Employees of educational institutions, including junior colleges, four-year colleges and universities, technical schools, vocational schools, educational support services and education administration programs
Information and communication technologies
Internet, video and telecommunications systems, repair of consumer electronics, repair of computers and office machines
Legal
Workers who provide legal services or support the operations of the judicial system, including judges, lawyers, jurists, legal assistants, trial servants, messengers, bailiffs, probation officers, probation officers, judicial staff and others who provide legal assistance or perform legal functions.
Media
Newspapers, periodicals, television, radio and other media services, news outlets and newsstands, broadcasting, news syndicates, printing and book publishers
Other essential operations and functions based on the community or government
Other government employees; essential community-based functions (e.g., urban planning, offices that provide basic needs such as food, daycare, shelter, and social services); library workers
Personal care and hygiene services
Companies that offer personal care services such as hair, nails and non-medical massages.
Laundries, dry cleaners, industrial laundry services and laundry service providers
Public Health
Public health entities; pharmaceutical companies, medical devices and equipment and biotechnology
Public Security
Workers who ensure that public safety systems work properly, including building inspectors, civil engineers, chemical engineers, aerospace engineers, and hazardous materials response agents. Workers who build and maintain roads, highways, railways and ports. Cybersecurity operations workers
Retail
Retail store workers, including stores that sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, over-the-counter medications, other non-grocery products (e.g., electronics, optical products, books, etc.), other consumer products for the home, wholesalers, dispensaries and cannabis licensed cultivation centers
Shelter and housing
Hardware stores and companies; construction and maintenance of buildings, real estate; hotel and motel workers
Transport and logistics
Gas station workers; supply and repair of automobiles and bicycles; companies that provide shipping and delivery services; messengers; warehouses; private mail; Airline workers not included in 1b; workers in rail, water, truck, bus charter or transportation rental
Water and wastewater
Workers involved in wastewater treatment and operations; sanitary and storm maintenance equipment performing emergency and essential maintenance of systems
Those already eligible in phases 1A and 1B will also remain eligible in 1C.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady noted that eligibility for city-run vaccination sites will be limited to Chicago residents only.
“I want to clarify that as of March 29, only Chicago residents will be able to get vaccinated at Chicago City vaccination sites,” Arwady said. “We have asked healthcare providers to continue to prioritize vaccination for existing patients who have the most underlying conditions, so we don’t need residency requirements so you can get vaccinated with your regular doctor or when we do targeted vaccinations. in the employer, which is likely to start, probably more seriously in May. “
Arwady said the city will not be required to reside, but said that for public vaccination sites “at least for the next two months, we will limit this eligibility for Chicago residents.”
The next phase begins on March 29, but officials warned that not all eligible people will be able to get an appointment immediately.
“What this change in phase 1C doesn’t mean is that we will have enough vaccine for those who are eligible right away,” the mayor said. “We are optimistic that we will continue to see a steady stream of vaccines in March, which in April will look even better, but we want to make sure we manage people’s expectations. It will take us a while due to the limited supply that we are still getting it, but hope is on its way. We are expected to get more vaccines throughout this next phase. “
Chicago continues under Phase 1B, which includes essential front-line workers and residents age 65 and older, as well as health care workers and long-term care facility personnel and residents who were eligible under Phase 1A of the implementation of the city.
The city chose not to expand into Phase 1B Plus alongside the state, which made those with certain underlying medical conditions eligible, due to what it said was a shortage of supply.
There are already many eligible residents in state implementation phase 1B Plus who can be vaccinated at the federally-administered United Center mass vaccination site.
“This represents a significant increase in eligibility,” Arwady said. “And that means that in April and May we will focus on vaccinating people with underlying conditions and essential workers, especially those who can’t work from home, but we will focus on anyone who doesn’t get the vaccine yet at 1A or 1B, and we continue to make sure that where people get a series of two-dose vaccines, they get it on time. “
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.