Community Corner
Where To Sign Up For The Coronavirus Vaccine In Illinois
An updated list of who is eligible for the vaccine and where to register. All vaccines are free, even without insurance.
![The Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, left, winces as he receives the first of the two Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/ap/22969723/20210319/011954/styles/patch_image/public/ap20358625372809___19131435885.jpg)
ILLINOIS — With vaccine eligibility expanding across the state and more mass vaccination sites opening every day, the true end of the pandemic finally appears in sight. Though the rollout started slowly, with winter weather delaying shipments and frustrations mounting in the face of limited supply, that seems to be changing.
Cook County health officials announced March 15 that people aged 16 to 64 with risk factors such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other medical conditions can now get a potentially life-saving shot anywhere in the suburbs.
Meanwhile, Gov J.B. Pritzker said this week the state would open vaccine appointments to all residents 16 and older on April 12. Starting Monday, the state will also expand Phase 1b plus to higher education staff, government workers and members of the media, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday. On March 29, the state will add restaurant staff, construction workers and religious leaders to the list.
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Chicago, going its own way, is skipping Phase 1b plus and will expand eligibility to all essential workers, including retail staff, as part of Phase 1c on March 29. The state's expansion to more workers is essentially the same as the previously announced Phase 1c, though the state seems to have abandoned that terminology and shifted timelines.
“From the very beginning of our COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Illinois has ensured our most vulnerable residents receive first access to these life-saving doses, from our healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff, to our 65 and over population and those living with pre-existing conditions, to frontline essential workers who are more exposed to COVID-19 at their workplaces,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Before Illinois expands eligibility to all residents 16 years and older on April 12, I’m proud to announce expanded eligibility for additional groups of more vulnerable populations. With weekly shipments to Illinois surpassing one million doses in April, we are on track to save lives and bring this pandemic to an end.”
Find out what's happening in Chicagowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
New mass vaccination sites, such as those at South Suburban College, Tinley Park Convention Center, Triton College and the former Des Plaines K-Mart should make getting the shot easier in the coming days and weeks.
Upon taking office in January, President Joe Biden promised to get 100 million shots into Americans' arms in his first 100 days in office. The country was set to pass that number on Friday, Biden's 58th day in office.
In March, Biden called on states to make the vaccine available to all adults by May 1, and predicted there would be enough shots for anyone who wanted one by that same month.
According to the CDC, more than 115 million Americans have received at least a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccines, and about 40 million have been fully vaccinated with either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
That's in addition to hundreds of thousands of people all around the world who took part in safety trials. Experts say the vaccines are some of the safest and most effective ever developed and will save hundreds of thousands of lives — but only if enough people take it.
RELATED:
- Food & Drink Staff, Higher Ed Workers Added To Vaccine List
- Full Reopening When Half Of People 16 And Up Are Vaccinated: Gov
- Vaccine Eligibility Expands In Chicago, Suburban Cook County
- Full IL Reopening Plan Expected This Week; Masks A 'Mainstay'
- Deaths Spike In IL: Pandemic's Toll Likely Higher Than Reported
If you want to sign up for a shot in Illinois, the first step is determining if you are eligible.
Who is eligible?
Phase 1a (statewide)
- Health care workers
- Residents and staff in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities
Phase 1b (statewide)
- Anyone age 65 or older
- Frontline essential workers, including:
- first reponders (fire, law enforcement, 911 workers, security personnel, school officers)
- Education (teachers, school administrators and other school support staff, day care workers)
- Food and agriculture (workers in processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services and animal care)
- Manufacturing (Workers involved in the industrial production of goods)
- Corrections workers and prisoners (correctional officers and prison staff, incarcerated individuals)
- U.S. Postal Service workers
- Public transit workers (flight crew, bus drivers, train conductors, taxi drivers, para-transit drivers, in-person support, ride-sharing service drivers)
- Grocery store workers (baggers, cashiers, stockers, pickup and customer service personnel)
- Shelter and adult day care staff (Workers in homeless shelters, women's shelters, adult day/drop-in programs and sheltered workshops)
Phase 1b plus (except in Chicago)
- Anyone with a medical condition that puts them at increased risk for the coronavirus disease, including:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Pulmonary diseases
- Smoking
- Heart conditions
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cancer
- Solid Organ Transplant
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Pregnancy
- Any physical, developmental, visual, hearing or mental disability not covered in previous categories
- Higher education faculty and staff (starting March 22)
- Government workers (starting March 22)
- Media (starting March 22)
- Restaurant staff (starting March 29)
- Construction and trade workers (starting March 29)
- Religious leaders (starting March 29)
Phase 1c (starting March 29 in Chicago, but the rest of Illinois is skipping this phase)
All essential workers, including:
- Clergy and staff for religious organizations
- Employees of banks, credit unions, title companies, and other financial services workers
- Restaurant and bar workers
- Faculty and staff of colleges, universities, tech schools, trade schools and other higher education workers
- Information technology workers
- Judges, lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, bail bond agents, parole and probation officers and other legal workers
- Journalists, broadcasters, book publishers, librarians, and other media workers
- Personal care and hygiene workers
- Public safety workers, including civil engineers, chemical engineers, aerospace engineers, road workers, longshoremen and cybersecurity workers
- Retail workers
- Hotel and motel workers, real estate agents, construction and maintenance workers
- Gas station workers, bike supply and repair workers, delivery drivers, couriers, warehouse workers, mail carriers, bus drivers and other transportation and logistics workers
- Wastewater treatment workers, sanitary and storm maintenance crews
Phase 2 (Starting April 12 in most of Illinois and expected to start May 1 in Chicago)
- Everyone age 16 and older
Where to sign up?
If you're eligible for the vaccine, your options include signing up through a local pharmacy or hospital, a mass vaccination site or your county health department. Most pharmacies are following the state's expanded eligibility criteria, while county-run points of distribution (called PODs) seem to be waiting until vaccine supplies increase.
Officials said there are no remaining appointments at the United Center for individuals outside the City of Chicago.
Pharmacies offering the vaccine include:
If pharmacy appointments are booked, your next best bet is signing up through one of the county health departments, local hospitals, or National Guard-run mass vaccination sites listed below:
- 2nd dose Moderna at Alco
- ADAMS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- ALTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
- AMITA St Alexius Medical Center
- Adams County Illinois Mass Vaccination
- Alexander County Egyptian schools dose 1 & 2
- Anderson Hospital
- Belle-Clair Fairgrounds
- BOND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- BOONE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Boyd Fillager Clinic
- BUREAU COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Bureau County - 1st dose clinic
- CALHOUN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Camden Centre Vaccination Clinic
- Carle Foundation Hospital
- CARTERVILLE FAMILY PRACTICE CENTER
- CASS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- CASS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- CCH ARLINGTON HEIGHTS HEALTH CENTER
- CCH BLUE ISLAND HEALTH CENTER
- CCH COTTAGE HEALTH CENTER
- CCH MORTON EAST HIGH SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH
- CCH NORTH RIVERSIDE HEALTH CENTER
- CCH ROBBINS HEALTH CENTER
- Center for Family Health - Greater Elgin Family Care Center
- CHAMPAIGN-URBANA PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
- Chester Memorial Hospital
- CLARK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- CLINTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- COLES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- Cook County - Olympia Fields Park District 200 -1st Dose
- CRAWFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Creekside Health Center - Greater Elgin Family Care Center
- CUMBERLAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Danville Community College
- DEKALB COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Des Plaines K-Mart
- DEWITT-PIATT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- DOUGLAS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- DUPAGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- DuPage County Fairgrounds, Building 1
- EAST SIDE HEALTH DISTRICT
- EDGAR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Edward Hospital
- EFFINGHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Elmhurst Hospital
- EVANSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- FAYETTE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- FHN
- Forest Park, Former HOBO Store
- Franklin Williamson Bi-County Health Department (Phase 1A & 1B)
- FRANKLIN-WILLIMSON BI-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Fulton County Health Department Covid 19 Mass Vaccination - 1st Dose
- Gibson Area Hospital
- Graham Hospital
- GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- GRUNDY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- HAMILTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- HANCOCK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Hancock County Residents ONLY- Phase 1B, 1st Dose
- HENRY/STARK BI-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Parish Hall
- IROQUOIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Iroquois Memorial Hospital
- JACKSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- JASPER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Jo Daviess County 1st dose for Phase 1b
- JO DAVIESS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Jo Daviess County 1st dose for Phase 1b
- Jo Daviess County Health Department (First Dose for Phase 1b)
- Johnson County Dose 1 & 2
- Former Kane County Sam's Club, Batavia
- KANKAKEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Katherine Shaw Bethea Hosptal, Polo
- Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospta, Dixon
- Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospta, Oregon
- KENDALL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Kendall County - 1A + 65 PLUS + EDUCATORS ONLY - 1st Dose
- Knox Co 1st Dose Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic
- KNOX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- LA SALLE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- LAKE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Lake County Fairgrounds
- Lake Health Center - Greater Elgin Family Care Center
- LAWRENCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- LIVINGSTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- LOGAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Loretto Hospital
- MACON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- MACOUPIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Macoupin County Residents ONLY - 1st Dose Moderna Clinic 1A, 1B and 1B plus Priority Groups Only
- MADISON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Massac Memorial Hospital-West 10th
- Massac Memorial Hospital-Chick Street
- McDonough District Hospital Health Services (age 65+)
- MCHENRY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
- McHenry Community Health Center - Greater Elgin Family Care Center
- MCLEAN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- Memorial Hospital
- MONROE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- MORGAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Morrison Community Hospital
- MOULTRIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT (new URL since 2.18.21)
- MVAT 15b Provident Hospital
- MVAT 17 ISP McCormick Place POD
- MVAT 32;33 Carbondale Civic Center
- MVAT 32;33 Carbondale Civic Center
- MVAT 34;35 Banterra Center (new address since 2.18.21)
- MVAT 36;56-57;60-61 Gateway Convention Center
- MVAT 48-49;51-54 Illinois State Fairground/Orr building
- NIU Convocation Center, DeKalb
- Northwest Community Hospital
- Oakley Lindsey Center
- OGLE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - OREGON
- OGLE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - ROCHELLE
- Oswego School District/Knedall County 2nd Dose
- PCHD Columbian Club Pinckneyville (First Dose Moderna)
- Perry County - DuQuoin American Legion - 2nd Dose
- Pope/Hardin County Golconda Job Corps Dose 1 & 2
- Provident Hospital
- Pulaski County - SCC Dose 1 & 2 and J&J single dose
- PUTNAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- RED BUD REGIONAL HOSPITAL
- RICHLAND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICE
- Riverside Medical Center, Wall St., Kankakee
- Riverside Medical Center, W. Court St., Kankakee
- ROCK ISLAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Saint Anthony Hospital
- Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital
- SAINT CLAIR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- SANGAMON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Schuyler County Phase 1a & 1b
- Shabbona Middle School, Morris, IL
- SKOKIE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- South Suburban College
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - ALEXANDER
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - HARDIN
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - JOHNSON
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - MASSAC
- Southern Seven - Massac County - 1 & 2
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - POPE
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - PULASKI
- SOUTHERN SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT - UNION
- STICKNEY PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
- Stoger Hospital
- Streamwood Community Health Center - Greater Elgin Family Care Center
- Swedish Hospital
- TAZEWELL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- The Grossinger Motors Arena (county residents only)
- Thornton Fractional South High School
- Tinley Park Convention Center Site
- Triton College
- Tuscola Clinic/Douglas County
- UI Health
- VERMILION COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Vermilion Regional Airport
- VNA Health Care, Aurora
- VNA Health Care, Elgin
- WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- WAYNE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- WHITESIDE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Williamson - Heartland
- WINNEBAGO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
- Winnebago County Max Vaccination Site
- WOODFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Rural Vaccination Pilot Program dates:
- March 22: Oil Belt Christian Service Camp, Clay County
- March 24: Edwards County — Appointments are booked through Wabash County Health Dept. at 618-263-3873
- March 25: Lawrence County, Central Christian Church — call 812-213-0199
- March 26: Cumberland County, Toledo Christian Church — call 217-849-3211, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- March 27: Edgar County, Paris Cooperative High School — register online or call 217-294-2729
- March 29-30: Stephenson County, Highland Community College — register online or call 815-599-8412
Officials say to bring documentation that shows you are eligible, such as state ID and employee verification — a work ID or badge, a paycheck stub, CityKey card or a letter from your employer. Providers will not ask about immigration status.
How do the vaccines work, and are they safe?
The two leading coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are both mRNA vaccines. Unlike traditional flu vaccines, they don't contain any of the virus itself, but rather use messenger RNA — a cousin to DNA — to teach your body to produce the spike protein the coronaivirus uses to penetrate cells. Your body then mounts an immune response against that protein, and when the real virus shows up, it knows how to fight it.
Both are around 95 percent effective at preventing illness but nearly 100 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations or deaths. Both require two shots, about a month apart, to reach full efficacy, though studies suggest a single shot may offer some protection.
A single-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson recently approved by the FDA works more like a traditional flu vaccine. J&J's shot contains a dead piece of the coronavirus, which stimulates an immune response inside the body. While it is less effective at preventing illness than the Pfizer and Moderna variants — about 66 percent effective, the drugmaker says — it is just as effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths, only requires one dose, and is much easier to store.
All the vaccines have been through multi-phase clinical trials with more than 30,000 participants, and the FDA says they are safe. That doesn't mean there won't be any side effects — the most common being soreness at the injection site, fatigue, fever, chills and headache. But officials say the side effects are short-lived, comparable to those experienced with the Shingles vaccine or seasonal flu shot, and much better than actually catching the coronavirus.
If you are pregnant or have had allergic reactions to vaccines in the past, you should talk to your doctor before signing up for a vaccine. Officials say everyone else should get a vaccine as soon as they are able, both to keep from getting sick themselves and to stop the spread of the virus to friends, family and neighbors.
All vaccines are free to the public, with or without health insurance.
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