CHICAGO (CBS) — With two drug companies asking the FDA for emergency approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, Chicago’s top doctor said it could be available in the city later this month.
Doctor Allison Arwady, head of the Chicago Department of Public Health said the first doses, which will mostly likely go to healthcare workers in the city, will be given very soon.
“I want you to know that we are ready to accept whatever amount of vaccine we receive. We have plans that will start with all 37 Chicago hospitals, receiving vaccine for healthcare workers, not yet for patients,” Arwady said. “And we have planned for all 128 long term care facilities in Chicago, that would include both skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities.”
It’s estimated that the city will get anywhere from 20,000-25,000 doses.
The state of Illinois as a whole will get 109,000 doses in the first shipment mid-month if all approvals go as planned.
“We can’t be sure about any of this until the federal government makes that emergency use authorization, and then the recommendation for vaccine. So I think it is likely that we will be vaccinating here in Chicago, probably the third week of December, possibly the fourth week of December again depending how the federal timeline plays out,” Arwady said.
It was not clear late Tuesday whether Chicago’s hardest hit areas will be at the front of the line. Meanwhile, officials said not all health care workers will get the vaccine out of the gate, CBS 2’s Chris Tye reported.
“There will not be enough for everyone,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Candice Robinson. “If we are to get more doses, we have plans to be able to scale up rapidly for vaccination.”
Arwady said the guidelines for distribution will come from the federal government. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 to recommend health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities get the first access to vaccines.
Arwady said the campaign rollout for people to be vaccinated will probably take a year.
“We are anticipating that the way this will be prioritized not be by neighborhood per se, it will be by risk,” Arwady said. “We are starting with health care workers, probably next coming with essential workers. Next, you know, and people who are over 65 people with these underlying conditions. What we are anticipating at CDPH through protect Chicago is that we will do additional outreach efforts for example in neighborhoods that have been hardest hit to ensure that there is good knowledge about how to get vaccine as it is available to the population.”