- Credibility:
Editor’s Note: This story was updated April 19.
CHICAGO — Coronavirus vaccinations are now open to everyone 16 and older in Chicago.
Chicago is now in Phase 2 of vaccinations. But supply of doses is still limited, which means appointments can be hard to come by.
Here’s how you can try to get vaccinated:
Who’s Eligible For Vaccinations
Everyone who is 16 or older is eligible in Chicago and Illinois.
How To Get Vaccinated
Hospitals
The city’s health department says you should first contact your primary care provider or a health clinic or hospital where you’ve received care in the past. You can check their website or contact them for information on vaccinations and setting up an appointment if they’re vaccinating people.
The city has also instructed hospitals and other providers to directly contact existing patients who are eligible for vaccines and offer them appointments. Providers are supposed to first offer appointments people most at risk — namely, patients who are oldest and have underlying medical conditions.
Pharmacies
Select pharmacies are offering COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible people, though appointment slots fill up quick.
Here’s where you can try to make an appointment online:
Note: CVS is not offering vaccinations to the general public at its pharmacies in Illinois.
Vaccine Hunters
Various vaccine hunting groups have sprung up on social media to help people find an appointment. The Chicago Vaccine Hunters group on Facebook is widely used.
The ILVaccine website also searches providers to show you if any appointments are open near you.
Workplaces
The city’s health department will work with large employers to offer vaccinations through their workplaces.
People who will be vaccinated through their workplace do not need to take action, according to the city health department.
Zocdoc
Zocdoc lists publicly available appointments from the city’s vaccinations sites, as well as from local organizations like AMITA Health, Erie Family Health and Innovative Express Care
Not all vaccine providers in Chicago are listing their open appointments on the scheduling tool. But more providers are expected to join, according to the city.
People can sign up online for open appointments through Zocdoc. The tool will check if you are eligible to be vaccinated. If you are, it will show nearby vaccination locations and open appointments. People can then make an appointment.
You can use the Zocdoc tool by clicking here.
Mass Vaccination Sites
Chicago:
- The city’s mass vaccination sites are not open to the public for appointments, but they’re only vaccinating people 18 and older.
- Here’s How To Get Vaccinated At Wrigley Field’s Mass Vaccination Site
- Here’s How To Get Vaccinated At Chicago State University’s Mass Vaccination Site
Cook County:
- Cook County does have vaccination sites that are accepting appointments so long as you are eligible and you live and/or work in Cook County. Appointments fill up fast. You can register with the county here or call 833-308-1988 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday to make an appointment and/or to get updates.
United Center
Homebound
People who are homebound for various reasons can sign up online to get vaccinated against coronavirus at their home. Their caregivers will also be vaccinated under the program. The program is expected to take several months to complete.
Other
- Vaccination Clinic Opening At Loretto Hospital — But City Will Manage It After Hospital’s Scandals
- Here’s How Chicago Is Handling Mass Vaccination Sites, Events While Johnson & Johnson Doses Are ‘Paused’
- New Coronavirus Vaccination Site Now Open For South Siders. Here’s How To Sign Up
Where To Get Vaccinated
Chicago’s health department has a map of some vaccine providers in and around the city:
When Will I Be Eligible?
Here’s the city’s tentative timeline:
- Phase 1A: Continuing. Covers health care workers and people living and working in long-term care facilities.
- Phase 1B: Continuing. Covers Chicagoans 65 and older and frontline essential workers.
- Phase 1C: Continuing. Covers other essential workers and people ages 16-64 with underlying medical conditions that put them at risk for severe cases of COVID-19.
- Phase 2: Continuing. Covers all Chicagoans 16 and older.
Children will likely not be vaccinated until the summer or later, Arwady has said.
Read more: Coronavirus Vaccine Available To All Chicagoans By End Of May? City Reveals Tentative Plan
How To Get Updates
You can sign up with Chi COVID Coach to get updates from the city’s health department on its vaccination campaign.
You can check the health department’s website for information.
You can also contact Block Club’s free coronavirus hotline with questions or sign up for our free text alerts for breaking news.
Read More
New Coronavirus Vaccine Scheduler Lets You Find Appointments From Around Chicago
A Coronavirus Vaccine Is Coming. Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Getting One In Chicago
Coronavirus Vaccine Available To All Chicagoans By End Of May? City Reveals Tentative Plan
Chicago’s Health Care Workers Can Now Get Vaccinated Against Coronavirus. Here’s How To Sign Up
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