Under the move to phase 1C, Chicago residents who have medical conditions or are essential workers who haven’t yet qualified for the coronavirus vaccine will become eligible for the shot starting March 29, Lightfoot said. That will mean most of the city’s population will be allowed a vaccine, Chicago public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said while tempering the announcement with caution over limited availability.
The eligibility for those with health conditions applies to Chicagoans 16 and older and will follow the Illinois Department of Health’s guidelines that include cancer, lung disease, heart conditions and other ailments that put individuals at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. Unlike the rest of the state, however, Chicago will not include smokers in that category and will expand to additional conditions such as HIV/AIDS, liver disease and schizophrenia. Essential jobs will be defined as industries such as restaurants, construction, finance, media and other categories.
“This is good news for the tens of thousands who are anxiously awaiting their turn to get the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine,” Lightfoot said at a Wednesday news conference. “Simply put, because of the hard work and sacrifice of so many across our city, we have the opportunity to open up vaccine opportunity to more folks and that’s what we’re doing.”
Lightfoot made the announcement as city officials continued a push to get seniors vaccinated and eligibility for shots at the United Center remains restricted to people in hard hit ZIP codes.
The expansion to Phase 1c follows the current phase which began on Jan. 25 to include Chicagoans age 65 and up, those in congregate living settings and front line essential workers including teachers and police officers. Before that, vaccination kicked off mid-December for health care workers and nursing home residents and staff only.