March 31 - Residents fully vaccinated tops 11,000
The Oak Park Department of Public Health reported today that more than 11,400 residents were fully vaccinated as of Monday, according to state data. These numbers reflect residents vaccinated by any provider, including the Oak Park Department of Public Health, which has expanded eligibility for local clinics to all residents 16 and older. So far, the Oak Park Health Department has directly administered nearly 6,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and allocated more than 12,300 doses to local hospitals and health care vaccination partners.
March 31 - Opportunities to get vaccinated continue to grow
With county, state and federal resources continuing to expand access to vaccine to all Illinois residents who qualify regardless of where they live, the Oak Park Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to take the first appointment they can find. In addition to pre-registering to get into the Oak Park Health Department’s vaccination queue, residents are encouraged to sign up through Cook County, which is managing mass vaccination clinics throughout the area. The Illinois Department of Public Health also has a statewide vaccine locator to help get appointment information about opportunities at state-run clinics and local pharmacies. In addition, many major healthcare providers are scheduling appointments with existing patients – visit your health system’s website for more details.
March 29 - Vaccine eligibility to expand to all residents 16 and older
Oak Park’s vaccine pre-registration form has begun collecting information from all residents 16 and older who want to get in line for a local COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The Illinois Department of Public Health is set to officially make everyone 16 and older eligible on April 12, but has left the implementation decisions to local health departments, since vaccination efforts vary widely across the state. Oak Park public health officials say they have begun pre-registering residents in anticipation of moving quickly to expand clinic eligibility as vaccine supplies allow. Every resident 65 and older who had pre-registered with the Village has received at least one invitation to a clinic, and invitations will soon be sent to any remaining frontline essential workers or residents with high-risk health conditions currently on the pre-registration list. Filling out the vaccine pre-registration form does not schedule a vaccination, but it does make sure those residents who wish to be vaccinated can be contacted by the Oak Park Health Department when community vaccination opportunities arise.
March 29 - Residents encouraged to pursue all opportunities to get vaccinated
Saying that the best vaccine to get is the first one available, the Oak Park Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to take the first appointment they can find. In addition to pre-registering to get into the Oak Park Health Department’s vaccination queue, residents are encouraged to sign up through Cook County, which is managing mass vaccination clinics throughout the area, including at Triton College and in Forest Park. The Illinois Department of Public Health also is managing a statewide vaccine locator to help get appointment information about opportunities at state-run clinics and even local pharmacies. In addition, many major healthcare providers are reaching out directly to schedule appointments with their existing patients – visit your health system’s website for more details.
March 29 - Seek the shot, not convenience, health officials urge
As the Oak Park Health Department begins to dive deep into its vaccine pre-registration database, residents who receive an invitation to a vaccination clinic are urged to respond as soon as possible and not wait for a more convenient time. While no resident who pre-registered but ignored or turned down a clinic opportunity will be removed from the list, that vaccine dose will go to the next person in line. Vaccine supplies continue to be unpredictable, officials say, so anyone who doesn’t accept an invitation to a local clinic will have to wait for the next opportunity at a date not certain. In the meantime, any resident who receives an invitation to a local clinic, but has already been vaccinated, is asked to follow the instructions in the email so that the Village list can be updated accordingly. Oak Park residents with questions about the vaccine or unusual scheduling needs may email covid19vaccine@oak-park.us.
March 24 - Number of fully-vaccinated residents surpasses 10,000
The Oak Park Department of Public Health reported today that 10,327 residents were fully vaccinated as of March 22, according to state data. These numbers reflect residents vaccinated by any provider, including the Oak Park Department of Public Health, which currently is vaccinating individuals who live and work in Oak Park and are eligible under Phase 1b of the state vaccine distribution guidelines. The latest state data includes nearly 300 vaccinations with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has not yet been provided to the Oak Park health Department. For the latest information about the Village’s vaccination efforts, visit www.oak-park.us/vaccine.
March 19 - Village to follow state’s lead, expand vaccine eligibility
Beginning Monday, Oak Park’s online vaccine pre-registration form will begin gathering information from residents who qualify under the state’s latest expansion of Phase 1b eligibility, which is adding workers in government, higher education, news media and restaurants, as well as religious leaders and trades people. While pre-registering with the Village does not schedule a vaccination, it does put those who sign up in line to get vaccinated as vaccine supplies allow. Meanwhile, the Cook County Health Department has begun allowing residents from throughout the suburbs served by separate local health departments including Oak Park to register for mass vaccination clinics being held across the area.
March 17 - Village poised to begin vaccinating residents with high-risk health conditions
With every Oak Park resident 65 and older who pre-registered with the Village having been invited to a local vaccination clinic, the Oak Park Department of Public Health is poised to expand vaccination opportunities to those included in Phase 1b Plus of the state’s vaccination guidelines. Phase 1b Plus includes adult residents who have high-risk health conditions including cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart condition, immunocompromised state from a solid organ transplant, obesity, pregnancy, pulmonary disease and sickle cell disease. Other Phase 1b residents who have pre-registered, but not yet invited to a clinic – including essential workers and educators who live or work in Oak Park – are urged to monitor their email for invitations to future clinics. More information on local vaccination efforts is posted on the Village website.
March 17 - Number of residents fully vaccinated continues to grow
The Oak Park Department of Public Health reported today that 9,050 residents were fully vaccinated as of March 15, according to state data. These numbers reflect residents vaccinated by any provider, including the Oak Park Department of Public Health, which currently is vaccinating individuals who live and work in Oak Park and are eligible under Phase 1b of the state vaccine distribution guidelines. Through March 15, the Oak Park Department of Public Health had directly administered 4,951 vaccine doses and allocated another 9,322 doses to healthcare partners. For the latest information about the Village’s vaccination efforts, visit www.oak-park.us/vaccine.
March 15 - Senior citizens urged to monitor email for COVID-19 vaccination clinic invitations
Residents 65 and older who have completed Oak Park's vaccine pre-registration form are encouraged to closely monitor their email accounts for invitations to sign up for vaccination clinics planned over the coming weeks hosted by the Oak Park Department of Public Health. First-dose clinics scheduled for this week are targeting senior residents as well as essential workers such as grocery store employees, with additional first-dose clinics planned for next week. If vaccine supply continues to arrive at the same rate as in recent weeks, local health officials anticipate completing vaccinations for eligible seniors and essential workers by early to mid-April, and then turning to individuals with high-risk health conditions eligible under Phase 1b Plus of the state's distribution plan. In the meantime, as vaccine supply grows throughout the region, residents are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to be vaccinated by providers other than the Oak Park Health Department should they arise, with the understanding that any required second dose must come from the same provider. Vaccination rates for Oak Park residents continue to outpace the county and region, according to state data that tracks vaccinations by residential zip code regardless of where the vaccine was received.
March 15 - Most Oak Park public school teachers now fully vaccinated
Following a second-dose vaccination clinic hosted by the Oak Park Department of Public Health this past Saturday, all public school educators who work in Oak Park have been given the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. About 600 second doses were administered at the clinic held in the Oak Park and River Forest High School field house, the final round for educators in School Districts 200 and 97. Employees of several licensed day care centers also were included in the second-dose clinic. Plans are underway to deliver second doses to private school educators who were vaccinated at a dedicated clinic hosted in February by the Health Department at Rush Oak Park Hospital, as well as any remaining educators who live in Oak Park but work elsewhere. Public Health officials say it could take up to two weeks following the second dose for the vaccine to be fully effective. More information on vaccine safety and effectiveness are posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent website – click here to view.
March 10 - Number of residents fully vaccinated continues to grow
The Oak Park Department of Public Health reported today that 7,361 residents were fully vaccinated, according to state data. This number reflects residents vaccinated by any provider, including the Oak Park Department of Public Health, which currently is vaccinating individuals who live and work in Oak Park and are eligible under Phase 1b of the state’s vaccine distribution guidelines. Through March 9, the Oak Park Department of Public Health had directly administered 4,310 vaccine doses and allocated another 8,600 doses to healthcare partners. From March 1 – 7, the Oak Park Department of Public Health directly administered 1,065 vaccine doses, as compared to 469 doses the week of Feb. 22 – 28.
March 8 - Vaccinations continue for eligible residents
The Oak Park Department of Public Health will continue its vaccination efforts this week by administering first doses to seniors and required second doses to seniors, educators and other essential workers at closed, invitation-only clinics. Residents age 71 and older who have completed Oak Park's vaccine pre-registration form are encouraged to closely monitor their email accounts as invitations have been sent to this priority group for vaccine clinics scheduled for next week. If vaccine supply continues to arrive at the same rate as recent weeks, local health officials anticipate completing vaccinations for eligible seniors and essential workers by mid-April, at which time the focus will turn to individuals with high-risk health conditions eligible under Phase 1b Plus of the state's distribution plan. In the meantime, as vaccine supply grows throughout the region, residents are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to be vaccinated by providers other than the Oak Park Health Department should they arise, with the understanding that any required second dose must come from the same provider. For the latest information about Oak Park's vaccination efforts, visit www.oak-park.us/vaccine.
March 8 - State, federal officials change course on United Center mass vaccination site
State and federal officials announced a reversal of plans related to FEMA's mass vaccination site at the United Center, which for the time being is no longer accepting registrations from those who live outside of Chicago. All previously scheduled appointments will be honored, so Oak Park residents who were able to secure an appointment at the United Center are encouraged to keep it. In the meantime, the Oak Park Department of Public Health continues to administer its limited vaccine supply as quickly as possible. Visit www.oak-park.us/vaccine and click Vaccination Tracking Information for the latest data related to local vaccine efforts. The data typically is updated on Wednesdays.
March 8 - Precautions still required in public after becoming vaccinated
The CDC has released updated guidance about how to protect yourself and others after becoming fully vaccinated. The guidance includes information about gathering with other vaccinated people and how to proceed after being exposed to someone with COVID-19. Federal, state and local health officials stress that experts are still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. After becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19, residents should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing a mask, staying six feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces until we know more. Click here for the latest vaccine information from the CDC.
March 3 - Federal options to offer new vaccine opportunities for seniors
Oak Park seniors still awaiting a vaccine appointment will soon have additional options as a new mass vaccination site operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is scheduled to open for inoculations March 10 at the United Center in Chicago. Individuals age 65 and older will be able to book an appointment at the United Center vaccination site starting at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow (March 4) via www.zocdoc.com/vaccine. Appointments also may be scheduled by calling 312.746.4835. In addition, the federal government is making limited direct shipments of vaccine to major pharmacy chains that will manage vaccination registration and scheduling separate from local health department databases. As vaccine supply grows throughout the region, residents are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to be vaccinated by providers other than the Oak Park Department of Public Health should they arise, with the understanding that any required second dose must come from the same provider. Phase 1b eligible residents who filled out Oak Park's vaccine pre-registration form are not precluded from receiving a vaccine dose from a provider other than the Oak Park Department of Public Health. In the meantime, Oak Park health officials will continue to offer vaccine appointments to eligible residents as vaccine supply allows. Vaccine supply remains limited and quantities vary from week to week, making it difficult to predict when specific priority groups will be offered a vaccine by the Oak Park Department of Public Health.
March 3 - Seniors urged to monitor email closely for vaccine clinic invitations
Residents ages 65 and older who have completed Oak Park's pre-vaccine registration form are encouraged to closely monitor their email accounts for invitations to upcoming vaccine clinics hosted by the Oak Park Department of Public Health. In recent days and weeks invitations have been sent to residents age 79 and older who pre-registered, but many did not respond. Health officials will continue to send invitations to residents from oldest to youngest until appointments are filled. Be sure to check email spam filters and junk folders to ensure messages sent from covid19vaccine@oak-park.us are not diverted. Seniors concerned that they may have missed an email invitation may contact the Health Department at covid19vaccine@oak-park.us.
March 1 - Focus remains on second doses; awaiting word on new one-dose vaccine
Administering second doses of COVID-19 vaccines will remain the priority this week as the Oak Park Department of Public Health sends teams to vaccinate residents of congregate living facilities and hosts drive through clinics. Health officials also will be administering second doses to educators and other essential workers at closed, invitation-only clinics. The pre-registration form on the Village website has been expanded to collect contact information for residents under 65 years old who meet the state's criteria for high-risk medical conditions. Due to limited vaccine supply, the Health Department does not plan to initiate part two of Phase 1b - called Phase 1b Plus - until seniors and essential workers eligible in the first part of Phase 1b are completed. In the meantime, the Oak Park Health Department is awaiting word on how soon the newly approved one-dose vaccine may become available here and in what quantities.
