CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago is laying out plans for vaccinating children between ages 5 and 11 years against COVID-19 on Friday after giving students the day off from school. City officials said they expect to have 100,000 pediatric doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by then.
Dr. Allison Arwady said the Chicago Public Health Department has been studying where the city's 210,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 live.
"We've been thinking about where to prioritize vaccine as well as making sure that particularly in unvaccinated neighborhoods, there are opportunities for walk-in. There are more walk-in appointments available across the South Side than there are in any other part of the city. That is by design," Arwady said.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez said there are about 3,600 students currently in quarantine and canceling class Friday is about trying to stop that number from growing.
"We're not even seeing the colder weather yet coming. We haven't seen yet the holidays. And so, you know, I will continue to say this: this is an investment for the rest of the school year.
Lightfoot administration said there will be more than 200 sites offering pediatric vaccines across the city on Friday.
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