COVID-19 Vaccine in Illinois: How to register for it?
The coronavirus vaccine is being distributed throughout the country. How, where, and when can you get vaccinated in Illinois? Read below to clear all the confusion regarding the vaccination process.
Here’s all you need to know:
Who is eligible for the vaccine?
Illinois is currently in Phase 1B. With previous phases, this includes the following groups:
- Health care workers
- Anyone aged 65 or older
- Teachers and childcare workers
- Long-term care facility residents and workers
- Adults with high-risk medical conditions
- Persons with disability
- Persons living or working in congregate settings
- Workers in essential and critical industries
- First responders
- Persons working in processing plants, veterinary health, livestock services, animal care
- Public transit workers and for-hire drivers
- Grocery and restaurant workers
- Corrections workers and incarcerated individuals
- In-person college faculty and instructors
- Anyone living or working in a homeless shelter
How can I register myself for the vaccine?
- Determine eligibility and schedule an appointment.
If you belong to one of the groups that are eligible now, you can make an appointment with a local provider. Illinois provides a list of locations here.
You must contact a participating location directly to make an appointment.
If you are currently eligible, you can also make an appointment through these pharmacies:
You can also call the health department toll-free at 800-889-3931 for assistance or send an email to DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV.
- Bring proof of eligibility to your appointment.
Depending on your eligibility category, proof can include:
- an employee ID card
- a letter from an employer or affiliated organization
- a pay stub, a driver’s license, passport
- or any legal proof of your date of birth and residency.
At the time of your appointment, you’ll be asked a series of clinical questions to ensure readiness for a vaccine.
Do I need a second appointment?
If you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, your appointment for the second dose will be scheduled automatically when you receive your first vaccine dose. Your second appointment will be scheduled for the same time and at the same location, three weeks following your first dose. You will receive a card onsite with the date and time indicated and a confirmation email will follow a few days later. Please keep in mind when scheduling your first appointment that your second appointment will occur at the same time of day. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose.
Besides health care workers, who will be able to administer the vaccine?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has had Dentists, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians extend the scope of their practice to allow them to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. IDPH has authorized Emergency Medical Technicians – Intermediate (EMT-I) and Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians to administer the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines after successful completion of an IDPH approved vaccine training program.
Who will be eligible next and when?
The next phase (Phase 1c) in Illinois will include:
Other essential workers not included in previous phases
Vaccinations for people in group 1C in Illinois are expected to begin on March 29, 2021.
