The city of Chicago received more than 22,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the CDC on Wednesday and is sending part of the offer to the two largest airlines of O’Hare International Airport. Both United and America Airlines will be eligible for airport employees on Thursday. No carrier would say how many doses they received.
And while United has said that employees in Chicago who are at least 65 years old or members of the flight crew will be vaccinated, American said all of its O’Hare employees will be eligible.
Illinois government officials said they expect a majority of the 83,000 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine. They were allowed to arrive by Wednesday and be distributed to mass vaccination sites.
Meanwhile, appointments are being opened at the United Center vaccination site on Thursday.
To register for an appointment at the United Center, visit www.zocdoc.com/vaccine or call the multilingual hotline (312) 746-4835 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 4pm on Sunday.
And Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is considered a possible site for mass vaccinations, the Cubs and Aurora Health confirm.
A Cubs spokesman said they were in talks with the city about opening a site at Wrigley. Although the shots cannot be given on the field itself, some areas can be used indoors and outdoors.
Lawyers call Wrigley Field an easy option because it is close to the CTA.
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The Cubs say, if asked, it is their honor to play a role in ending the pandemic.
If Wrigley does become a vaccination spot, shots could be fired at the entrances, into the courtyard and possibly into the player’s parking lot.
DECLARATION OF SUITABLE AURORA HEALTH:
As a community health leader, we are very committed to doing everything in our power to carry out the vaccination as quickly, fairly and safely as possible.
We are proud to partner with a potential mass vaccination site at Wrigley Field, possibly empowered by the City of Chicago. If the premises are designated and City vaccine supplies become available, Advocate Aurora Health will provide clinical staff and technical infrastructure.
This place is considered because it is an easy option for people who do not own cars as it is easily accessible via the CTA. It is part of our ongoing focus on partnership to ensure that residents of communities affected by disproportion have access to the vaccine as supplies become available.
We continue to believe that the vaccine is the best chance to put an end to this pandemic, and we continue to use our current, very limited stock for our most vulnerable patients over 65.
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