Chicago Coronavirus Vaccine Effort Could Begin Mid-December

CHICAGO — Health care workers treating COVID-19 patients could begin receiving coronavirus vaccines by mid-December, city public health officials said.

"Two weeks from today we could be talking about vaccination," Chicago public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said. She said the city is prepared to launch its immunization effort once the federal government approves either of two COVID-19 vaccines currently under a final review.

Arwady said she expects the city will receive an initial shipment of about 25,000 vaccine doses once the drug is approved. The first vaccine doses to arrive in Chicago will be prioritized for health care workers at city hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, officials said.

“We’re at the beginning of what’s going to be a long campaign,” Arwady said.

What the immunization effort will look like will depend on guidance from the Centers For Disease Control. Among the first Chicagoans in line for vaccinations will likely be essential workers, senior citizens, nursing home residents and folks with health conditions connected to severe COVID-19 complications.

More details about the city's planned vaccination effort is available online.