Coronavirus Vaccine in Chicago: All Questions Answered
One of the main priorities of the US government is to develop and deploy enough quantities of vaccine to reduce the transmission rate to zero, eliminating all COVID-19-related infections and illness, and deaths. A way to implement this strategy is through vaccination of all the citizens of the United States, making them immune to the contraction and transmission of coronavirus and reaching herd immunity.
On that note, it is severely important that all the citizens of the country have easy access to vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collaborated with health care providers, private and public health institutions, and other same-goal agencies to create policies and awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine, enabling everyone to receive timely doses of vaccines without worrying about its cost.
CDC Policies Regarding Chicago, Illinois
Particularly in Illinois, CDC has considered the city of Chicago and the rest of the state as separate areas for the rollout of the vaccine. However, Illinois and Chicago (both areas) are in constant collaboration to make sure that the vaccines get delivered to all the vaccination camps in respective jurisdictions, following the guidelines of CDC, which are based on the recommendations of the members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The guidelines suggest different "Phases" for different groups of people to get vaccinated. Although Chicago and Illinois are considered separate vaccination distribution areas, both are currently in Phase 1b, which would let people over the age of 65 and other frontline exposure-prone workers get the vaccine in nationally-guarded vaccination camps around the state and the city.
When Can You Get the Vaccine?
Usually, a newly-developed vaccine is supplied in different phases, first going through clinical trials, limited approvals, and then complete approvals. However, if the transmission of the infection is getting more severe, authorities sometimes release an approval called Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that lets people at risk get the vaccine at the earliest.
In Chicago–Illinois, the first supply of the vaccine was made under the EUA by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine's distribution began in mid-December 2020 with the initial Phase 1a, allowing long-term care (LTC) residents and staff and healthcare personnel to get vaccinated.
After that, the whole state completely moved into Phase 1b around January 25, 2021. Phase 1b is now expanded in its eligibility criteria, allowing people with risky medical conditions to get vaccinated as well.
Since Phase 1b is still going on, this is the time when eligible people can make an appointment for vaccination.
Where to Get the Vaccine?
If you are an eligible citizen to get the vaccine in Phase 1b and haven't got vaccinated yet in Phase 1a, you can easily get the vaccine nowadays at vaccination camps, grocery stores, hospitals, and clinics.
It is important to remember that policies in hospitals, grocery stores, and clinics vary, while proof of employment would be required to submit at the vaccination camps. Otherwise, the appointment might get rejected.
On the other hand, certain clinics are providing vaccination for free. Book your appointment for Free Vaccination now.