Chicago to ramp up vaccine outreach to seniors in March through home-based appointments with CFD, which will also offer caregivers the shot
The city of Chicago is hoping to blanket residents 65 or older with more vaccine availability this month through home-based appointments and pop-up events on the South and West sides as two in three Chicagoans in that age range still await their first dose, officials said Wednesday.
Older residents who cannot easily travel to a vaccine site can participate in a pilot program starting Thursday in which Chicago Fire Department paramedics will give them the shot at their homes, according to a Chicago Department of Public Health news release. Chicagoans fitting that criteria can indicate interest at https://redcap.link/MobileCOVIDVax. Caregivers of homebound older adults also are eligible to get the vaccine.
On Tuesday, city officials announced the upcoming United Center mass vaccination site will prioritize older residents in phase 1b, which includes front line essential workers and those age 65 or older. Starting Thursday at 8:30 a.m., those residents can register at zocdoc.com/vaccine or by calling (312) 746-4835.
“We’ve declared March ‘Senior Month’ in Chicago and are calling on all Chicagoans to step up and help our seniors sign up and get vaccinated,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot wrote in the release. “The new United Center vaccination site represents a turning point in our COVID-19 recovery effort and a major opportunity for all of us to serve our seniors and protect our residents who are most vulnerable to this virus.”
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The city is also partnering with Jewel Osco to host pop-up vaccination events for older residents in 11 communities hardest hit by COVID-19 starting Friday, according to the news release. Those Chicagoans will be contacted through community groups, faith leaders and local Aldermanic offices for registration. They also can email seniorsweek2021@cityofchicago.org or call (312) 746-4835 to sign up.
The rollout will include:
March 5 — Fuller Park, Grand Blvd and Bronzeville: Taylor Park
March 6 — Garfield Ridge and West Elsdon: Hale Park
March 7 — East and West Garfield Park: Garfield Park Gold Dome
March 8 — South Shore: Cultural Center
March 9 — West Pullman: West Pullman Park
March 10 — Burnside and Calumet Heights: Jesse Owens Park
March 12 — Hermosa: Kosciuszko Park
March 13 — West Lawn: West Lawn Park
March 14 — Lower West Side (Pilsen): Harrison Park
March 14 — Auburn Gresham: Foster Park
TBA — Brighton Park
The existing city-run vaccination sites as well as the temporary events hosted by the Protect Chicago Plus program, which aims to bring up vaccination rates in 15 neighborhoods, also will prioritize elderly residents for appointments, the release said.
