Chicago Outlines Plan For Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution

CHICAGO — If federal authorities approve a pair of coronavirus vaccinations, city health care workers would be first in line starting as soon as next week, city officials said Thursday.

"The vaccine development represents a long-awaited milestone in Chicago’s – and the nation’s – fight against COVID-19, and we look forward to working with our citywide partners to ensure the distribution process is executed as efficiently and safely as possible through an equity lens," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

"However, as encouraged as we are by the COVID-19 vaccine, widespread community distribution is still months away, and we must remain diligent in adhering to the public health guidelines as we continue to move forward toward a brighter and more resilient future for all of us."

Federal authorities are expected to make a decision on whether to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Thursday, and a separate vaccine manufactured by Moderna on Dec. 17.

If the Pfizer vaccine is approved, city officials expect to receive an initial shipment of about 23,000 vaccine doses with more coming each week.

After frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff at long-term care facilities and workers in essential and critical industries, including emergency service workers, people at a high risk for severe coronavirus complications and senior citizens will be next in line to receive the vaccine, according to the public health department's plan.

"The situation is very fluid as we don’t know how many we’ll be getting from week to week, and that will require us to be nimble in how we respond. But I have complete confidence in the team we have assembled to handle this," public health department Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic we have been working with healthcare and community partners on plans to quickly distribute a large amount of the vaccine. This will allow Chicago to start with as much vaccine as possible and continually increase the supply in the weeks and months to follow."

City officials said they have agreed to follow vaccination distribution regulations determined by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. But Chicago public health officials say they're pushing to make sure vaccines are distributed through an "equity lens" giving the disproportionate effect coronavirus has on minority communities.

The mayor said she stressed the importance of tracking demographic data related to vaccine distribution during a Thursday phone call with Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

More details on where vaccines will be distributed in Chicago will be available online.