70 Comments - Lefty Lefty - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:27 pm: Unless the City and State start going door to door with syringes in a refrigerated truck, the goal is as many people as possible getting the vaccination as quickly as possible. The pandemic has to be shut down. - Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:28 pm: I’m not ok with that which is why the City needs to open up 1b+ like the rest of the state immediately including at the United Center so that 55 year old with heart disease can get vaccinated without traveling dozens of miles to a county honoring the state restrictions. The Mayor needs to stop being obstinate and start opening this up. The rest of the state is growing rapidly but Chicago is holding back too much. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:29 pm: No, but I think if there is enough supply then it should be open more broadly to ensure the supply is into people’s arms quickly. If the public health experts say it is ok, then we should follow their advice. - NIU Grad - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:29 pm: No on paper, but…If the vaccines are available, should everyone under a certain age have to wait for everyone in an older category/those in risk categories to schedule their shots? There are clinics all over the state with open slots every day because people aren’t coming in for whatever reason. At some point, it has to open up. - Montrose - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:30 pm: Opening it up to everyone doesn’t preclude targeted vaccination events in underserved communities or targeting special populations. I say that to say opening it up to everyone doesn’t mean work can’t still be done to make sure the 55 year old has access. The other piece is the scenario in the question is already happening. People are finding the loop holes and getting the vaccine. If the supply is going to grow as much as they say, then lets open it up and starting getting as many needles in folks arms as possible while still do specialized events and outreach to get to marginalized populations. - Precinct Captain - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:30 pm: No. It’s unconscionable that the city has already allowed people, mostly white and mostly wealthy, to cut in lines and swamp vaccination sites meant for the city’s hardest hit neighborhoods, which are mostly Black and Latina/o. - Excitable Boy - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:32 pm: In a perfect world I’d say no, but the practical reality is these scenarios are impossible to prevent unless you want to slow progress to nearly a halt. The other reality is that every person vaccinated lowers the risk of transmission to that 55 year old. The more the merrier. - Titan - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:32 pm: A lean a little to the “not OK” side, at least until vaccines are readily available supply-wise. While supplies are limited, some prioritizing seems to be appropriate. - Anotheretiree - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:33 pm: Yes… The 55 year old has had quite a bit of time to get the vaccine by now. Anecdotally, the Clinic site in Springfield has been much less busy last 10 days. My complaint with the 25 year old is with me a 64 year old having to compete with all those 16 and up on the 12th. - Watcher of the Skies - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:37 pm: It’s still way too hard to get an appointment in Chicago/Cook County. So no, I’m not OK with it. That said, the goal is herd immunity, and the govt at all levels has moved with tremendous speed ever since President Biden took office. I’m not going to light my hair on fire over this possibility. - ChicagoVinny - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:38 pm: No. The city never did 1b+ and will only have two weeks of 1c before opening the flood gates. I don’t live in one of the UC zip codes. I’m only going to get a two week window to wrangle an appointment before the flood gates open. Unless supply/distribution capability is increasing proportionally, this seems unfair. - phocion - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:40 pm: Yes. The sooner we get to herd immunity, the better. And as Anotherreitree said, the 55 year old with underlying conditions has had (and will have) plenty of time to get in line. States that stress equity have stumbled badly in getting shots in the arms. Efficiency and effectiveness has to trump equity. - City Zen - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:40 pm: Yes, assuming there’s no unforeseen shortage. The 55 year old still has 3 weeks to get one before everyone else. Maybe this deadline will push any older and otherwise ambivalent folks who haven’t gotten vaccinated to do so. - Frumpy White Guy - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:42 pm: Underserved demographics and communities have to go first. - Andrea - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:42 pm: I don’t think absolute perfect “equity” is going to be achieved with vaccines. It’s folly to ask these types of questions. Is it equitable for a 25 year old not to get shot because one spoiled because bureaucrats meddled too much with distribution? Let’s just roll up our sleeves and get everyone who wants a vaccine a shot by May 31st. The best way to do that is to get shots in arms without spoilage. - dbk - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:43 pm: At this point, when we will be at the “vaccines for all those desiring them” stage within a few weeks, the goal of herd immunity seems within reach - get those shots in arms ASAP, everyone will be the better for it. This, from someone who’s very equity oriented. - used to be - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:45 pm: Rich the outreach to the minority communities is large. Where are the elected in calling their constituents or GOTV(Vaccine) - Been There - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:46 pm: I said no. Its a joke now just trying to get an appointment. Now you will have even more people trying for limited slots. And I am guessing the younger crowd will be more technologically advanced which gives them even more of a chance. - Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:48 pm: Put all those confusing lists and phases aside. This is a national and state-wide emergency, not some social experiment. Illinois ranks 38th in vaccinations so far amongst all the states. Pretty underwhelming so far. - No Question - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:48 pm: I wouldn’t be fine with the 25-year-old from Englewood going ahead of the 55-year-old… - someonehastosayit - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:51 pm: At this point, open it up to all adults. The 55 year old with conditions who hasn’t yet gotten vaccinated will get the peripheral benefit of the larger percent of the population getting vaccinated. Whatever gets the bulk of the folks vaccinated the fastest should be the plan at this point. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:52 pm: This is one of the hardest questions in a long time, it’ll be a while before Rich gives us another that will be this tough. On one hand, the state is at 28% of “one dose” status and getting to 50%, that is going to take vaccinating as many folks as we can, and getting those shots in arms any way we can. The other hand? Talking to a civilian the other day about the vaccination rollout, they reminded me of “in town” folks mean people residing in rural areas, the nearest town *still* has no stop lights, and like folks in some urban areas like Englewood, there aren’t enough opportunities and locations to get those shots in arms. And while seemingly too easy to compare Englewood to rural Illinois, the civilian reminded me what under serviced actually means, and even the differences between rural or urban it’s about poor and options most of all. So the question between the two people Rich has here makes the question far more about the view of society while also in the prism of the need to get closer to open and/or herd immunity. I voted “yes”, and unlike legislators who cowardly vote without using their own chance to explain I’ll say this; My hope is the needed and necessary ramping up in severely (and I mean severely) under serviced areas like Englewood need a great deal of attention to details to not only keep up with necessity but match opportunity for the Lincoln Park resident. Every arm vaccinated gets us all closer to a better Illinois. The numbers need to continue to rise, the opportunities to increase that number means many others will get vaccinated what seems to be outside reasonable expectations. If the governor and/or mayor puts this openness towards a great goal, the greater responsibility falls to ensure that equity is not the lip service but equity to the opportunities and leveling the good surge of vaccinations. I vote “yes”, but if the disparity widens and widens while numbers rise and rise, that will be on the leadership to answer why when the time could be best used to preparation of equity, we have such disparities? That will not be acceptable. - Floyddog - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:53 pm: At this point I feel like the more folks who get vaccinated, the better. I don’t care about the order anymore. - blue line - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:53 pm: i voted yes. early on, and with limited doses, i think it was smart to prioritize. now, with more doses, as well as more vaccination sites, we should begin to open up the flood gates. if people remain responsible, wear masks, and avoid large crowds, those in the higher age group should be ok. - DuPage Saint - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 1:57 pm: Absolutely not. Something is wrong with distribution. From reading this blog some areas have no problems others a lot. I know friends here who try multiple sites many times a day and still cannot get through. But will say more are starting to Does anyone think doing it alphabetically might help divide alphabet into quarters have one quarter go each day and other days every one. - Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:00 pm: Yes - the herd is achieved by shots in arms. Our most at risk are being vaccinated at a high rate. Now it’s on the state to make sure the supply is distributed in the proper manner, the shots can be scheduled and people can actually get to a vaccination site. This is quickly going to be about point of source access for folks. These shots need to be close to peoples doorsteps. - Blue Dog - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:04 pm: Precinct Capt. And others. If said shots are ‘meant for blacks and Latinos, then why not just deny those privileged whites the shot? Just say no. Make them have an i.d. stating their race. Simple solutions. - Nuke The Whales - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:04 pm: The City has vaccination sites at Malcom X College (1900 W Jackson), Arturo Velasquez Institute (2800 S. Western Ave.), Richard J. Daley College (7500 South Pulaski Rd.), Olive-Harvey College (10001 South Woodlawn Ave.), and Kennedy-King College (6301 South Halsted St.). These sites are far more accessible than the United Center to the Englewood resident. Instead of pearl clutching at the idea that 25 year old with an immunocompromised roommate or who is needed to assist older/disabled relatives in living not in a retirement home or who works in one of the distressed zip codes might get the vaccine and contribute to herd immunity how about you (whether you be the media or an individual) promote the City’s vaccination efforts at said sites. Unless there is some epidemic of affluent North Siders people crowding out vulnerable people in Englewood at Kennedy-King, I’m voting for herd immunity. - Soccermom - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:05 pm: I am in favor of shots in arms, as fast as possible. Every vaccinated person is one more brick in the wall we’re building against this virus. The equity issue is less about privileged people cutting in line and more about underserved communities having diminished access. I mean, a drive-up clinic is only useful if you have a car, right? It is the job of public health to create access where people are, instead of asking people who are already struggling to figure out where and how to get vaccinated. The pop-up vaccination clinics are an excellent idea — and they’re not likely to be overwhelmed by suburbanites traveling to Amundsen Park. We need to stop thinking in terms of us vs. them. Everybody deserves a vaccination, and the sooner the better. Let’s all get vaccinated as quickly as we reasonable can, and start protecting each other. - Mandymae - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:10 pm: yes- If I understand correctly, the gentleman from Englewood could get a vaccine now. I realize there may be some people who still are unable to access for whatever reason, but stories of that seem to be diminishing rapidly. It no longer seems like the slots are selling out like U2 tickets, so I believe that Mr. Englewood can get one if he wants to. - ChicagoBars - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:12 pm: Voted yes, the Washington Post in particular keep covering experts saying US has to vax as fast as possible to deter more contagious variants from taking off here. The screening program for detecting variants is pretty minimal in US,so arms in shots, all available arms ASAP. But yes also to many, many, many more GOTV(accine) - Genius btw commenter ‘used to be’ events in the more vulnerable communities between now and whenever Chicago aligns with State on eligibility. - Benjamin - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:13 pm: No, but a soft no. Allowing the older, more vulnerable citizen to go first is better, but either way brings us closer to herd immunity. If it’s an issue of insufficient demand from vulnerable populations, that’s a different problem, but what I’m hearing is there’s currently more demand than appointments available. Personally, I would be for lowering the age restriction in batches: today the 65+ crowd, next week the 55+ crowd, in three weeks 45+, etc. That way, everyone knows when it’s their time, and the age groups correlate reasonably well (though not perfectly) with vulnerability to the virus. - cermak_rd - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:16 pm: Blue Dog, You can’t do that. It would be discriminatory. I have no problem with limiting to zipcode because hten it means anyone who lives within those zipcodes, which is how it is done now. - jimbo - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:20 pm: Voted yes. Reluctantly. This has been *the* public health question since day one. Protect those most at risk or protect those most likely to get and transmit it? My 80 year old mother is likely to have issues if she gets it- but my 22 year old nephew is more likely to get it and transmit it because of perceived invincibility and what I consider irresponsible behavior during a pandemic. As a sad aside, I know dozens(!) that have gotten their shot fraudulently by claiming to be in a class that they are not. No one checks, no one seems to care. - cermak_rd - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:20 pm: I voted yes because that 55 year old with health difficulties will have had an opportunity to get vaccinated by that time. The fact that he may not have availed himself of it likely indicates there are challenges that keeping the rollout from proceeding won’t help. What will be needed are rolling vaccine trucks that make stops in neigborhoods. Maybe combined with a social worker who knocks on doors and a paramedic who can treat reactions. That should be doable with the J&J vaccine. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:27 pm: I voted no simply on the age and health issue. Race is not a factor to me. Vaccinate the sick, then the healthy. - Nick - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:30 pm: Unquestionably, yes. We need shots in arms, period. At a certain point eligibility does need to expand to include everyone who wants one. And id rather not repeat the woes many made in the beginning of the pandemic where eligibility requirements were so specific and stringent that you had vaccines actually going to waste due to lack of demand. - Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:31 pm: First, what part of Chicago the 25 year old and the 55 year old are from shouldn’t matter. The Chicago doses should be able to be scheduled by any Chicagoan regardless of zip code or neighborhood. Second, opening the scheduling ability to all adults is crazy. It’s going to be even more of a madhouse than it was for the much smaller group of frontline healthcare workers, 65 and older, first responders, and essential workers. It’ll look corrupt to people as the available appointments are snapped up in minutes, and websites crash due to the demand. Better get those server farms up to speed. It’s easy enough to use the available doses coming in if we open scheduling to smaller age group chunks. I’d like to see it open to 50-64 next, see how scheduling proceeds, then gradually opening the tap to younger adults as doses become available. - PublicServant - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:31 pm: Above was me - WestBurbs - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:40 pm: to answer only the question as posed: Yes, because the 55 year old with heart disease from Englewood has had substantial opportunity to be vaccinated, including through the zip code setasides. If he/she hasn’t been vaccinated yet, it likely is due to the inability of the person to navigate the existing system (or hesitancy) - and that will never improve. So that person is no worse off under the floodgates theory. That said, we should have door to door roving vaccinators in englewood and other underserved areas - lets take the vaccine to them. - Lurker - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:43 pm: If we are going to vaccinate everyone by end of May, it needs to be fully open by mid-April. - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:50 pm: Voted Yes. I want to see nurses on street corners holding up fingers for how many vaccines your group needs like they were scalping baseball tickets. Get it in every available arm now. - zatoichi - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 2:59 pm: Yes, shots in arms as soon as possible. The issue is distribution. The only thing restricting local vaccine sites in picking up volume is having vaccines. Take vaccine door to door for groups that need that and use smaller teams in easily accessed local sites. For those who refuse vaccine, they made their own choice. - AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:02 pm: We need people who want to get vaccinated to get vaccinated. - Consultant101 - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:04 pm: Voted yes. Every effort should be made to get the most at-risk the vaccine. That said, the goal is to get the most people vaccinated as quickly as possible. The state cannot force everyone who is at-risk to get the vaccine. - Crash - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:10 pm: As a 55 year old from AH with a heart condition, heck no. People like me are more at risk and I still cannot find a place to do a vaccine. We should prioritize so that those of us who might die from it get vaccinated first. - wow - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:16 pm: On a moral level? No, of course not. On a practical level? Yes, for sure. If I could wave a magic wand and get every single person with a pre-existing condition in one fell swoop right now I’d do it — but I sadly don’t have one. Pritzker is right, this is still 3 and a half weeks away. It’s shots in arms any way we can get them time. - DMC - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:17 pm: It’s fine. Shots in arms. Herd immunity. - Pundent - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:19 pm: Tough call but I voted a reluctant yes and hope the supply is there come April to meet the demand. The challenge for me is that Pritzker’s plan for moving forward is largely dependent on being able to vaccinate our most vulnerable to bring down cases, ICU usage, etc. While anyone can get Covid the reality is that certain groups are far more vulnerable to the disease than others. - cermak_rd - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:21 pm: Anonymous, the reason for the zip code set asides is that some zipcodes have suffered far greater losses to the virus. - Candy Dogood - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:27 pm: More shots in more arms, and to get more arms we have to increase participation. ===Are you OK with perhaps a 25 year old healthy Lincoln Parker === I presume this 25 year old has a family — maybe some parents and grand parents. Maybe they have a job or a commute that exposes them to risk? This 25 year old is also capable of getting COVID-19 and spreading it. Odds are pretty good this 25 year old hasn’t been to a doctor recently and is technically obese, so let’s get barriers for people who want to willfully participate in favor of those who are more reluctant or are just “waiting to see how things go.” - Amalia - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:36 pm: Serve the guy in Englewood. People with health conditions should go first. And since the City is a big part of the State, this is why I have questions about how even worse pandemics will be treated in the future. Mayor Lightfoot complained about not getting enough supply. The State had enough to move ahead on the criteria. Is the City incompetent in getting enough? Should things be coordinated differently going forward? - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:37 pm: Voted no by accident. Yes, but torn about it. The Chicago 1C group will have two weeks to get vaccinated before everyone age 16+ will be eligible, which is a very short time. A vaccinated healthier and younger person could protect an unvaccinated sicker and older person by not getting infected and spreading the virus. Immunity is great all around, but I could be a yes vote on this too. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 3:43 pm: I don’t mind waiting a bit longer while low income communities get served before me. I’ll be fine. I realize there others in my age/demographic that don’t want to wait any longer than necessary. I understand that feeling too. Soccermom is right also, that we need shots in arms as fast as possible. Despite that, it would be nice if those with the least are put at the front of the line. That doesn’t happen much in my experience. I’m willing to wait for my turn. - Not the Dude - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:01 pm: I didn’t vote. What if they were both at the site together and there was only one shot available, I’ll bet the answers would be different. - Responsa - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:04 pm: I understand the angst but Yes. We are all God’s children. Among the willing get the shots in the arms of the most people possible, across populations, as soon as possible whenever and wherever and however it can be accomplished. - Manchester - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:10 pm: This is a really tough one. Obviously the 55 year old with underlying conditions should be vaccinated first. However, the reality is that there is a tremendous need to take the vaccine to the areas of poverty where people have inadequate transportation, inadequate health care, basically inadequate everything. We are at a critical juncture here and need to get shots in every arm we can due to the rise in the variants. The sooner we get people vaccinated the less chance we have of a variant that overwhelms the vaccine. Reluctantly, I would answer yes but it goes against my general sense of equity. - Thomas Paine - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:23 pm: A 55 y.o. with heart disease in a predominantly black or Latino neighborhood can get vaccinated today under Lightfoot’s plan. In fact, a healthy 25 yo in a Black or Latino neighborhood can get vaccinated today. It’s the 55 y.o. with heart disease in a diverse neighborhood or predominantly white neighborhood who cannot get vaccinated right now. I voted Yes because opening up the vaccine to everyone in the city now is a terrible idea, but the only worse idea is what Lightfoot’s is currently doing. - A - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:25 pm: Getting as many people of all ages vaccinated helps everyone. The younger people are the spreaders even though older people are more affected. Either way, if neither group can be affected by the virus,all of us benefit. Younger people have been getting the vaccine by showing up at the end of the day, taking shots for people who didn’t keep their appointments so it’s not like no young people have been vaccinated. - EssentialWorkingMom - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:31 pm: I voted yes because, like others have mentioned above, shots in arms is important. People who are younger and otherwise healthy have gotten severe cases of Covid while others who are older and have pre-existing conditions have gotten very mild cases of Covid. This virus isn’t playing by the any rules of fairness and there’s a lot that still isn’t making sense, especially with the long haulers. Shots in arms to the people that want the vaccine has quickly as possible. - Jocko - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:38 pm: I voted yes, so long as the 25yo is not pushing the 55yo down to get ahead. A compromise would be going in 10yr clusters (54-64, 44-54, 34-44) to make sure every last vial is used. - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:55 pm: Yes. The more people that are vaccinated, the safer everyone will be. It is not practical to hold off on one group until everyone in the prior group has been vaccinated. That said, the state needs to ensure that anyone who wants a vaccine has the ability to sign up for and receive one. That means more ways to sign up and extended hours for folks who work. There should also be an effort to vaccinate every residential college student before they head home. If this is done with a 2-dose vaccine, April 12 is a late start. - Lt Guv - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 4:56 pm: Yes. Every individual vaccinated reduces the risk for all. Just get it done. - BluegrassBoy - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 5:59 pm: Yes, Too quote Jimmy Hendrix “There’s too much confusion” on who is eligible and where the heck you can get the shot. I wish they would just start with the last name approach and get in line at the fairgrounds. Much easier - High Socks - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 6:26 pm: Voted Yes. As the song goes: “Shots…shots, shots, shots, shots” This is a volume game now. The higher the vaccination percentage the closer we are to winning - Rolling Stone - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 6:31 pm: No Way. Not until all the people like me can get an appointment. I’m a 60 year old grocery store worker who has registered with my county, medical group. I try to get appointments at Walgreens and Jewel every day. All appointments in Dupage County are always booked when O try. It’s not that easy to get the vaccine here in the burbs. What will it be like when it is wide open. - Bruce - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 6:48 pm: What ever happened to dibs. Most effective way to distrubute goodies - Umm.... - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 8:16 pm: I voted yes. The 55 year old in Englewood could get vaccinated today. If the 55 year old isn’t willing to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them now, then they should get in line with everyone else come April 12. Vaccines aren’t as hard to come by as they were a month ago. Plus, there are a number of locations that have restricted vaccinations to places like Englewood. At some point zip code, health and age should no longer matter and I think we are at or pretty close to that point. The goal should be to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible. - Redditor - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 9:12 pm: As a millennial, it’s much easier for me and my family to secure an appointment. Allowing for even more millennials to get slots will only make it harder if not impossible for a 55 year old with limited access to the internet to get an appointment. Get more the seniors vaccinated first - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Mar 18, 21 @ 10:52 pm: @Rolling Stone - Have you tried Rockford? Winnebago County has a state supersite that is supposed to be open to everyone. Good luck, and hang in there. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.