The city of Chicago received more than 22,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine Wednesday from the CDC and is shipping some of that supply to the two largest airlines at O’Hare International Airport. Both United and America Airlines will begin vaccinating eligible employees at the airport on Thursday. None of the carriers said how many doses they received.
And while United said it will vaccinate Chicago-based employees who are at least 65 or are members of flight crews, American said all of its O’Hare workers would be eligible.
Illinois state officials said they expect most of the 83,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. They have been assigned to arrive on Wednesday and distribute to the mass vaccination sites.
Meanwhile, appointments on the United Center vaccination site open Thursday.
To register for an appointment at the United Center, visit www.zocdoc.com/vaccine or call the multilingual hotline (312) 746-4835 from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday and from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday .
And Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is being considered as a potential mass vaccination site, both the Cubs and Advocate Aurora Health confirm.
A Cubs spokesman said they are in talks with the city about opening a site in Wrigley. While the shots would not take place on the field itself, some internal and external areas could be used.
Advocate calls Wrigley Field a convenient option due to its proximity to the CTA.
RELATED: United Center COVID Vaccine Site Appointments Open Thursday, With Over 100K Spots Available
The Cubs are saying that, if asked, they would be honored to play a role in ending the pandemic.
If Wrigley becomes a vaccination site, vaccines could be administered in the interior lobbies, in the outdoor plaza, and possibly in the player’s parking lot.
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY AURORA HEALTH:
As a community health care leader, we are firmly dedicated to doing everything possible to carry out the vaccination process as quickly, equitably and safely as possible.
We are proud to partner on a potential Wrigley Field mass vaccination site, which would potentially be licensed by the City of Chicago. If the site is designated and city vaccine supplies are available, Advocate Aurora Health would provide clinical staff and technical infrastructure.
This location is being considered because it is a convenient option for people who do not own cars as it is easily accessible via the CTA. This is part of our continued focus on the association to ensure that residents of disproportionately affected communities have access to the vaccine as supplies become available.
We continue to believe that the vaccine is our best chance to end this pandemic and we continue to use our current, very limited supplies for our most vulnerable patients over the age of 65.
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