Chicago health officials say the city could begin the next phase of its vaccination by the end of the month, but who is eligible?
The city has so far chosen not to introduce Phase 1B Plus of vaccinations next to the state, which will open doses for residents with certain underlying health conditions.
Although no admissions announcement has been made so far, Phase 1C is likely to increase vaccine admission to all other essential workers not already eligible, as well as Chicago residents over the age of 16 with underlying medical conditions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Phase 1C includes the following:
- People aged 65-74 because they are at high risk for hospitalization, illness and death due to COVID-19. People aged 65-74, who are also residents of long-term care institutions, must be vaccinated in phase 1a.
- People aged 16-64 with underlying medical conditions which increases the risk of serious, life-threatening complications by COVID-19.
- Other essential workers, such as people working in transport and logistics, food service, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, rights, media, public safety and public health.
However, the CDC notes that Phase 1B and Phase 1C may overlap in some cases, such as underlying medical conditions.
Chicago remains under Phase 1B, which includes essential workers and residents 65 years and older, as well as health workers and long-term care staff and residents eligible under Phase 1A of the city’s implementation.
Although the city decided to expand to Phase 1B Plus, dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said that if Chicago were to receive a lot more vaccine in March, it is possible that officials could start vaccinating those with underlying conditions before they enter. Phase 1C.
Many residents eligible under Phase 1B Plus of state implementation can already be vaccinated at the United Center Federal Mass Vaccination Center.
Chicago health officials had earlier announced that the city had targeted an estimated start date for the next phase, Phase 1C, which begins on March 29.
Arwady said the city could start vaccinations earlier if the dose is increased, but she noted that the city will stay at the end of Phase 1C until the end of March.
‘We will adjust it [date] as we always have, as we see vaccine doses coming in, “Arwady said. But honestly, the way [vaccines have] entering, is about how I expected them to enter. March is going to look much better than February looked in terms of vaccine. And I think April is going to look a lot better than March. ‘
Arwady said Phase 1C is likely to start on March 29 and Phase 2, which includes all residents over the age of 16, could start on May 31.
“It may be earlier than expected, but the timeline we laid out still seems pretty consistent with our numbers,” Arwady said. “If you remember, we really said that end of March 29th was where we suspected that we might be able to move to 1C at some point, and end of May we might be able to move before Phase 2 and I did not see anything that big “large differences do not indicate that.”
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