Where to get the Covid vaccine in Chicago

6/3/21 Update:  This post is no longer being updated.  There are now appointments available anywhere including select City, County and State vaccination sites as well as Walgreens .  Everyone 12 and older is eligible to be vaccinated.

Limited walk-ins are currently being accepted at the following locations(more info): 

COTC note: When I got my second shot at Wrigley Field I asked about walk-ins.  They said they are taking walk-ins at the end of the day – if there’s any vaccine left.  The day I got my shot they were fully booked so in theory there wouldn’t be any vaccine left.  Unless you live close to a site I would recommend still making an appointment so you don’t waste your time.  Also the City of Chicago will be issuing a Vax pass that people will need to attend concerts and other large attendance events.  This should be announced in early May so there could be a run on vaccination appointments around that time.

American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way 1119 W. Waveland Ave., Vaccine: Pfizer 16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Must live, work or receive medical care in Chicago to receive a vaccine at this location.  ZocDoc

Apostolic Faith Church 3823 S. Indiana Ave., Vaccine: Pfizer ZocDoc 16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Chicago State University Emil & Patricia A. Jones Convention Center, 9501 S. King Dr., Chicago State University Vaccine: Pfizer 16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Drive-thru vaccines available also. Drive-thru will be the one shot Johnson & Johnson. ZocDoc

Richard J. Daley College 7500 S. Pulaski Rd., Vaccine: Pfizer 16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  ZocDoc

United Center, 1724 W. Madison,; Lot E from the Madison Street entrance Vaccine: Pfizer  16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Drive-thru vaccines available also.  Rumor has it that this site may convert to drive-up only.  I tried calling the vaccine hotline to confirm but got cut-off twice. ZocDoc

Wilbur Wright College 4300 N Narragansett Ave Vaccine: Pfizer 16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. ZocDoc

Indiana has had appointments for weeks

Vaccine Spotter  Vaccine Finder 

As expected there is confusion and chaos around the distribution of the vaccine.  The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issues guidance on who can get the vaccine but that doesn’t matter because no one seems to have it.  There appear to be four phases of distribution. 1a, 1b, 1c and 2.  We are currently in Phase 1b but they are taking people 65 and older.  Phase 1b is supposed to be 75 and older, plus others (see below).

3/24/2021 update: The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois use different qualifications for vaccination. The City of Chicago is currently on Phase 1b and the City is estimating that on March 29, 2021 it will move to Phase 1c.  Phase 1c includes: Chicagoans age 16-64 with underlying medical conditions and All other essential workers.  Go here and click on “Phase 1C estimated start”.

The United Center is currently offering the vaccine to residents in specific zip codes.  Read about the United Center here. 

State of Illinois Eligibility on March 22, 2021: Higher education staff, government workers, and media.  March 29, 2021: Restaurant staff, construction trade workers, and religious leaders and April 12, 2021: Any resident age 16 and up.

This means beginning April 12, 2021 any resident of the State of Illinois age 16 and up, who can get an appointment, can get vaccinated at any State of Illinois site.

Per the media Chicago and Cook County do not have enough vaccine to expand eligibility so changes in State eligibility will only apply to areas outside of Cook County.

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Where to get the Covid vaccine in Indiana – Illinois residents welcome!

Updated 4/11/2021:  Multiple locations in Northwest Indiana have vaccine appointments available this week.  Even the head of the Chicago Department of Public Health has suggested that people go to IN.  You can refuel and pick up groceries and booze on the cheap and/or visit the Indiana Dunes.  Check it out.

Where to get the Covid vaccine in Chicago

Almost everyone I know who has gotten the vaccine spent hours online each day searching for appointments.  

Where to get the Covid vaccine in Chicago – Register everywhere

There are no walk-in appointments or on-site registration available at any government site.  As we’ve all read people lurk outside locations hoping for a vaccine based on info from Facebook pages and other places on the interwebs.  I have no information on that.

ZocDoc:  You are able to sign up to get an email when appointments become available.  The second you get that email you have to respond immediately.  City of Chicago vaccination sites are not open to non-Chicago residents.  Register with ZocDoc to make appointments at Wrigley Field and Chicago State University.

City of Chicago:  Use ZocDoc to register

Protect Chicago Plus:  Residents of certain neighborhoods may have access to the vaccine ahead of other neighborhoods.  The neighborhoods included are: Archer Heights, Austin, Back of the Yards, Belmont Cragin, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Humboldt Park, Little Village, Montclare, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Deering, Washington Heights, and West Englewood.

Cook County Department of Public Health: Register through link or call the Vaccine Sign-Up Hotline: 833-308-1988 M-F 7am-7pm CT.  I called the number several times and it was busy. 

Where to get the Covid vaccine in Chicago Updated – Cook County sites

• United Center 1901 W. Madison St. Chicago, IL 60612
• Forest Park Vaccination Center (Pfizer) 7630 Roosevelt Rd. Forest Park, Illinois 60304
• Triton College (Pfizer) 2000 5th Ave Building T River Grove , IL 60171
• Des Plaines Vaccination Center (Pfizer) 1155 E Oakton St Des Plaines, IL 60018
• South Suburban College – Physical Fitness and Athletic Center (Pfizer) 15800 South State Street South Holland, IL 60473
• Tinley Park Convention Center (Moderna) 18451 Convention Center Drive Tinley Park, IL 60477
• CORE Center (Moderna) 2020 West Harrison Street Chicago, IL 60612

• Logan Square Health Center (Moderna) 2840 West Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647
• Austin Health Center (Moderna) 4800 West Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60651
• Dr. Jorge Prieto Health Center (Moderna) 2424 South Pulaski Road Chicago, IL 60623
• Provident Hospital of Cook County (Pfizer) 500 East 51st Street Chicago, IL 60615
• Englewood Health Center (Moderna) 1135 W. 69th St. Chicago, IL 60621

• Morton East Health Center (Pfizer) 2423 S Austin Blvd Cicero, IL 60804
• North Riverside Health Center (Pfizer) 1800 S Harlem Ave North Riverside, IL 60546
• Blue Island Health Center (Pfizer) 12757 S Western Ave Blue Island, IL 60406
• Robbins Health Center (Pfizer) 13450 S Kedzie Ave Robbins, IL 60472
• Arlington Heights Health Center (Pfizer) 3250 N Arlington Heights Rd Arlington Heights, IL 60004
• Cottage Grove Health Center (Pfizer) 1645 Cottage Grove Ave Ford Heights, IL 60411

Limited walk-ins are currently being accepted at the following locations (more info and to make appointments)

• Des Plaines 1155 E Oakton Street Vaccine: Pfizer
• Forest Park 7630 W. Roosevelt Rd.  Vaccine: Pfizer
• Matteson 4647 Promenade Way Vaccine: Pfizer 16 and 17-year-olds eligible at this site.  Under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• River Grove Triton College, 2000 5^th Avenue Vaccine: Pfizer
• South Holland 15800 State Street, South Suburban College Vaccine: Pfizer
• \Tinley Park 18451 Convention Center Dr. Vaccine: Moderna If you want an appointment, visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or call (833) 308-1988

Where to get the Covid vaccine in Chicago Updated – Cook County partner sites

Epic Urgent Care, 770 E Dundee Rd, Palatine, IL 60074, (708) 733-7750
Family Christian Health Center, 31 W 155th Street, Harvey, IL 60426, (708) 271-8777
Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, 701 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160
Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL 60153
MacNeal Hospital, 3249 S Oak Park Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402
Oak Street Health Berwyn, 7000 Cermak Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402

Oak Street Health  Lincoln Crossing, 1401 Western Ave, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
PCC South, 6201 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 386-0845

State of Illinois:  Read this post

Retailers

Costco:  The COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available at Costco Pharmacy in Illinois.

CVS:  The COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available at CVS Pharmacy in Illinois. Update 2/5/21: Per the Chicago Tribune 80k doses are being redirected to CVS pharmacies in Downstate Illinois.

Jewel Osco: According to the State of IL there are 92 locations administering the vaccine in Illinois.  The only Jewel’s in a 50 mile radius of downtown that come up are 370 N. DesPlaines and 4032 W. Foster.  They had no appointments.

Mariano’s: According to the State of IL there are 6 locations administering the vaccine in Illinois. Mariano’s website shows 18 in the city and suburbs that offer it.  They had no appointments.

Walgreens:  According to the State of IL there are 170 locations administering the vaccine in Illinois. See the State of Illinois website to search for Walgreens by zip code. Each Walgreens has a unique website to register.  However the first three links I tried got an error message.  You can go here.  Also you’ll need to be signed into your Walgreens.com account. If you don’t have one you’ll need to sign up.  You should, they have good deals!  I wasn’t able to go through the process because I’m not eligible.  My understanding is you fill out a form and when you get to the end they tell you there are no appointments.  Then you have to start all over again.

Walmart:  According to the State of IL there are 8 locations administering the vaccine in Illinois.   They’re all in Chicago including Neighborhood Market 2844 N Broadway and Neighborhood Market, 2551 W Cermak Rd. 

Hospitals/Healthcare systems

Advocate Healthcare:  They are vaccinating their most vulnerable patients based on CDC guidelines. If you’re a patient, they will contact you to schedule.

Amita Health:  Not currently vaccinating patients at its hospitals

Edward-Elmhurst Hospital:  They are vaccinating their most vulnerable patients based on CDC guidelines. If you’re a patient, they will contact you to schedule.

NorthShore University HealthSystem-Metro Chicago: They are vaccinating current patients age 65+ and directly contacting eligible patients.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital:  I saw the head of Gerontology on Chicago Tonight a couple days say that they are calling patients.  They are starting with their oldest and sickest patients.  You must have a primary care physician through Northwestern who you have seen in the last 18 months.  No new patients.  Rumor has it that NMH has the Pfizer vaccine.

Oak Street Health:  Current patients and all other eligible persons can book an appointment.

Rush University Medical Center:  Rush is a partner of IDPH so anyone eligible can schedule an appointment.  There were no appointments available.

St. Joseph’s Hospital:  They will take current patients when they get the vaccine.

UChicago Medicine:  When they are able to vaccinate patients, vaccines will be offered to a limited number of eligible patients through a lottery. Lottery enrollment is automatic. 

University of Illinois Medicine:  Anyone eligible can get the vaccine there.  “ALL AVAILABLE VACCINE APPOINTMENTS ARE FILLED. We apologize for any inconvenience. We have currently met our scheduling capacity for available vaccine.  Please continue to check back to this page for updates on scheduling availability.”

Plan of attack

There are appointments available almost everywhere!

I’m not eligible yet but when I am I plan to do the following.  Contact my Primary Care Physician, register at every site I can and probably check all of the above locations a few times a day until I get an appointment.  I am limited on where I will go because I don’t have a car.  However I’m not high risk and even if you get the vaccine tomorrow  you still can’t go anywhere.  At this point almost no one has it and the virus is so rampant that even if fully vaccinated you still have to stay on lockdown.   If I was older or high risk or both I would spend a part of every hour, every day trying to get an appointment day and I would take an appointment almost anywhere.  I would just rent a car to get there.  As it stands now I don’t anticipate being fully vaccinated until late fall or December.

Current status of vaccination in Illinois – No change as of 4/29/21 Abysmal+ (Upgraded from Abysmal!)

Based on City of Chicago vaccination rates published on January 15 I estimated with a population of 2.5 million that it would take 3.33 years for everyone to get vaccinated.  By February 3 I estimated that it would take  1.53 years to get everyone vaccinated.  I believe they’ve substantially picked up the pace but I’m too fatigued to do another calculation.  Maybe by October 1, 2021.  I doubt it!

The number of people getting vaccinated is dwindling so we may never reach 60-70% vaccination levels for herd immunity.  If we continue vaccinating at the current rate my calculation to reach 70% would be 9/1/2021.

Summary

There’s little vaccine available currently and chaos and confusion regarding distribution of what little there is.  Stay locked down until your turn comes later this year.  Be patient! Good luck!

There’s vaccine available everywhere.  Make an appointment and go in.  Thank you!

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