NOTE: The Cook County Department of Public Health is expected to address the release of the form at a news conference. Watch live in the player above
Suburban Cook County residents can now sign up for coronavirus vaccine updates, including when they will be able to receive their first shots and where Illinois will continue to roll out doses.
According to the Cook County Department of Public Health’s website, the new registration form will be used “to gather information from individuals who wish to receive regular information about when and where they can receive the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Although the department notes that the doses of vaccines remain limited and are currently being administered to privileged populations, including health care workers and long-term care residents and staff, it is asking any resident who is “not affiliated with any health care organization” to complete the survey.
Meanwhile, organizations with staff currently eligible to receive the vaccine can register here to receive an update on when their staff can receive COVID-19 vaccine.
The form follows one released last month by suburban Lake County. Lake County health officials have created a COVID-19 portal called “AllVax,” which allows residents to sign up for coronavirus updates, schedule appointments and register for the vaccine.
Last week, the city of Chicago also launched its first COVID-19 vaccination site for health workers, as it will roll out thousands of doses of vaccines against the deadly coronavirus.
But you can not just walk into the vaccination room – known as a “point of delivery” or “pod” – to give you a chance. You need an appointment, and only those who meet certain criteria can get appointments at the moment.
Workers who meet the criteria – examples from Arwady, including dental practices, outpatient practitioners, school nurses, a GP or any other healthcare professional in Chicago – must first make sure their practice is registered with the city.
The city’s website includes a survey for healthcare providers to outline the practice, staff and more information before city officials begin the process of getting doses of the vaccine directly to the practice, or through appointments for city or potential employees to set places. by pharmacy partners or hospitals.
According to New Year’s Eve, 143,924 Illinois residents received the COVID vaccine, according to Illinois Government spokesman JB Pritzker.
These numbers come amid growing fears that vaccination of the vaccine could prolong the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to a recent study by NBC News, the federal government would have to vaccinate 3 million people a day for its goal of inoculating 80% of the population by the end of June.
At the end of December, only 2 million people had received the first dose, and at that rate it would take ten years to reach the 80% vaccination threshold.
As the concern grows, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has criticized the federal government, saying it could take more than a year to administer the vaccine to all city residents at current dose rates.
In a social media report on Saturday, Lightfoot said the city’s health department has administered more than 95% of the vaccine doses it has received so far from the federal government.
In the tweet, Lightfoot said that according to the current dose increase, it will take 71 weeks to fully vaccinate all residents of the city.
“We need more vaccination. Now, ”she said.