November 23, 2024
Coronavirus

Chicago to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility this month

Chicago will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility later this month to include people with underlying health conditions and more categories of workers including in food service, construction, retail, finance and higher education

By SOPHIA TAREEN

Crista Mundil, a nursing student at McHenry County College and volunteer at the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Huntley High School, fills a syringe with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, March 12, 2021, in Huntley. (Matthew Apgar)

CHICAGO — (AP) — Chicago will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility this month to include people with underlying health conditions and more categories of workers, including in food service and construction, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday.

The expansion to so-called Phase 1c is expected March 29. It's the last category before vaccines are available to the wider public. Illinois has allowed people with some underlying health conditions to receive the shots since last month, but Chicago and its surrounding areas have largely held off because supplies are limited in the densely-populated region.

“This is good news for the tens of thousands who are anxiously awaiting their turn to get the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine,” Lightfoot told reporters Wednesday.

The expansion includes workers in finance, higher education and retail.

Still, issues persist with snagging limited appointments and eligibility confusion.

Criteria have changed several times at a federally-backed mass vaccination site at Chicago's United Center, which has allowed people with underlying health conditions since it opened this month. Initially, it was supposed to be open to Illinois residents but then was narrowed to Chicago residents. Later, those in city zip codes hit hard by the pandemic were given priority with officials saying suburban Cook County residents would be offered limited access.

Also Wednesday, Chicago schools officials announced staff and vendors working in schools can sign up for vaccination slots at four dedicated sites used for educators. However, it remained unclear how many teachers in the nation's third-largest district have been vaccinated.

State health officials on Wednesday announced 1,655 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 17 more deaths. Overall, Illinois has logged more than 1.2 million cases and nearly 21,000 deaths. Nearly 4.3 million vaccine doses have been administered.

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Associated Press writer Kathleen Foody contributed.

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CoronavirusCOVID-19 Vaccine