CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha joined Governor Pritzker on Monday to announce that the Tinley Park Convention Center will serve as Cook County’s first large-scale vaccination site opening on Tuesday, to continue Phase 1A and begin Phase 1B vaccinations, by appointment only.
"There are only about 120,000 first doses arriving in Illinois - outside of Chicago that is - this week. Because of the federal supply limitations, I want to emphasize that vaccinations are being given by appointment only," Pritzker said.
Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination plan includes individuals age 65 and older and frontline essential workers, such as first responders, manufacturing employees and grocery store personnel, and teachers. While an estimated 600,000 suburban individuals are eligible for vaccine under Phase 1B, officials warn there is currently not adequate vaccine supply to vaccinate everyone.
“While current vaccine supply does not meet the demand – we are standing up large scale sites now to ensure that we are ready as vaccine continues to be distributed to Cook County," said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. "We are anxious to contribute to the Biden Administration’s goal of providing 100 million vaccines in the first 100 days."
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Vaccinations at Tinley Park and other Cook County Health sites will be provided by appointment. Beginning at 12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, appointments for individuals in 1B can be scheduled at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov. Individuals without internet access or who need assistance scheduling can call (833) 308-1988 (from 7a.m. to 7p.m., Monday - Friday) also starting Monday. Cook County Health will only offer appointment slots based on the amount of vaccine on hand and will add appointments as new vaccine shipments arrive.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the opening of the mass vaccination site in Tinley Park is an important day, and not just for people in the south suburbs.
"Don't get me wrong, we are still losing lives every day. More than 400,000 Americans have succumbed to the disease. But now a year later, I am so grateful to be here planning for a surge in residents getting the vaccine," Preckwinkle said.
Cook County officials expect to be able to provide as many as 3,000 vaccines per day when the Tinley Park site is fully optimized and when adequate vaccine is available.
“Widespread vaccination sites will allow us to quickly and efficiently get these life-saving vaccine doses to Illinoisans as more federal shipments of vaccine come online,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The Illinois National Guard and the Illinois Department of Public Health are proud to partner with Cook County to launch the Tinley Park Convention Center Vaccination Site – our seventh collaboration in Cook County overall, with many more to come across the state. And Illinois residents from every region can find their nearby vaccination site options, from local health department operations to hundreds of pharmacy partners statewide, on coronavirus.illinois.gov. As federal supply is currently limited and every state in the nation is facing a shortage, I urge all eligible Illinoisans to check back regularly for available appointments – and in the meantime, mask up, keep our distance, wash our hands, and remember we’ll stay healthy and safe if we look out for each other.”
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In addition to Cook County Health sites, the Cook County Department of Public Health has distributed vaccines to more than 90 partner locations including Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, Walgreens, Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospitals who are also offering vaccines by appointment. A complete listing of these sites can be found at www.cookcountypublichealth.org.
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In the weeks ahead and pending vaccine availability, Cook County plans to open at least five additional large sites across the suburbs. County officials expect Phase 1B to take some time and caution residents to remember that moving through the various phases is contingent on the availability of vaccine.
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“This first large site in the Southland is indicative of our commitment to distribute vaccine equitably, but we fully expect that demand will quickly outpace supply. It is critical for people to understand that while we are anxious to vaccinate everyone who wants to be vaccinated, vaccine supply remains the biggest limiting factor. We are asking Cook County residents for their continued patience as we work to ramp up one of the largest County-operated vaccine programs in the country,” said Israel Rocha, CEO, Cook County Health.
Residents not yet eligible for vaccine can also sign up at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov to receive updates on their phase and for information on dozens of additional vaccination sites across Cook County.