CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Residents of suburban Cook County who signed up to receive alerts for COVID-19 vaccinations have been getting confusing text messages.
Cook County's computer system sent autogenerated messages containing vaccination registration codes to those primarily in vaccination group 1C, who are not yet eligible. The state is still working through group 1B.
The message led some to believe it was their turn for the shots and others were notified they are not eligible.
A Cook County spokesman told the Chicago Tribune the county's system is automatically sending sign up codes to everyone who filled out a Cook County Department of Public Health online survey in recent weeks, giving information that indicated they may be eligible for group 1C.
While the codes are real, it does not allow for residents to immediately sign up for vaccination appointments.
The county's spokesman said when people who have signed up are eligible they will be informed.
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The text message from Cook County said, in many cases, “COVID Vaccine Updates. You are in priority group 1C” and included sign-up numbers. When people in 1c become eligible for shots, they can use those sign-up numbers to schedule appointments with Cook County at https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov/.
Some people also received messages saying they were not eligible for vaccinations in suburban Cook County after filling out the survey. People who live or work in suburban Cook County are eligible for shots through the Cook County Department of Public Health, except for those in Chicago, Stickney, Skokie, Evanston, and Oak Park, which have their own health departments.
If people did not fill out the survey, but want sign-up numbers, they can get those by calling 833-308-1988.