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* Joint statement from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle…
Our goal is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible. That said, our greatest challenge in doing so is the very limited supply of vaccine we are receiving. While we are making progress every day with vaccinating people in 1a and 1b, at this time we are not being supplied with enough doses that would allow us to expand eligibility in these phases.
Doing so in Chicago and Cook County would add well over one million additional people to 1b, and the result would be that those currently eligible, including seniors, frontline essential workers and those in our most heavily COVID-burdened communities, would have an even harder time getting a vaccine.
These phases were established after careful study and consideration, and are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We recognize the Governor must make tough choices and consider needs across this diverse state, but given the limited supply of vaccine, we must also make the tough choices as the leaders of the most populous city and county in the state. We look forward to expanding eligibility as vaccine supply improves.
* WTTW…
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Wednesday the city is only getting enough vaccine for 5% to 10% of Chicagoans who are already eligible.
The expansion of eligibility may make sense in other parts of Illinois, where there is ample supply, Arwady said.
Under the city’s vaccine rollout plan, all essential workers as well as Chicagoans age 16 and older with underlying health issues will be eligible to get vaccinated as of March 29, if there is enough supply.
More than 900,000 Chicagoans would be eligible in the next phase of the effort, Arwady said. But the city does not have “anywhere near” enough vaccine to meet that demand, she added.
I don’t think there’s ample supply anywhere, but dosage shipments are about to increase and the governor’s folks say they’re they’re finally getting reliable shipment estimates out of the White House.
The governor is speaking at 10 o’clock in Elgin, so we should know more soon. I’ll update this post.
* Meanwhile…
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday she will allow Chicago bars and restaurants to expand the number of people they serve indoors.
But the city will continue to keep tighter restrictions on restaurants than the looser rules allowed elsewhere by the state.
…Adding… Pritzker press release…
The number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination locations across Illinois continues to increase. Since yesterday, more than 340 new retail pharmacy locations have been added to the list of COVID-19 vaccination sites open to the public. There are now more than 850 vaccination locations in Illinois open to the public. The new sites include 339 Walgreens stores throughout Illinois, which will be receiving vaccine out of a federal allocation and not from the state’s allotment. Additionally, four CVS locations are being added.
More info here.
*** UPDATE *** Emily Bittner…
The Governor strongly believes the most medically vulnerable in our state should qualify for vaccination as soon as possible, and that it would be unfair for the medically vulnerable like cancer patients to be denied vaccine in Illinois. Even though vaccine supply remains limited throughout the nation, the pipeline has started to increase and nearly 100 million more doses are on the horizon. Federal guidance already includes this vulnerable group, and the Governor is particularly invested in expanding access because this group includes a disproportionately large share of vulnerable people of color.
The part about federal guidance is key there.
Background…
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is up for approval in just a few weeks, and 100 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be distributed nationally.
The federal government has already increased the supply of vaccine sent to states over the past week and started delivering more doses to pharmacies across the state.
With these promising developments, other states have begun to expand phase 1B in line with federal guidance, and some local health departments across the state have already expressed their readiness to move to the next prioritization group in the coming weeks.
The state of Illinois is working with local health departments to ensure they have the resources they need to administer doses to those who need them most as quickly as possible.
This critical step gives local health departments the ability to make plans to open up appointments to this group of vulnerable residents.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 9:49 am
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Wow who had “Lightfoot & Preckwinkle vs. Pritzker” on their 2021 Illinois Politics bingo card? Things are getting weird and it’s only February.
Comment by mtwtsn Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 9:57 am
The expansion doesn’t even make sense in the rest of Illinois. This shouldn’t be so complicated - we should have followed CDC guidance and limited 1b, at least at first, to 75+ and older, and give them a decent chance of scheduling their shots, and a centralized “queue” for appointments rather than create a free-for-all vaccine hunt.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:00 am
This is the right call. We don’t have anywhere near enough vaccines for the current 1B population. By expanding the group you’re misleading people to think that an adequate supply exists and simply disappointing an even larger group of people. It makes no sense given the current supply constraints. It was a dumb move on Pritzker’s part.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:27 am
From a practical standpoint, all that’s been achieved here is making the line for limited resources longer.
From a political standpoint, Pritzker is making the right call.
From a serious standpoint, we all need to take a step back and wait our turn. Everyone has vaccine anecdotes, but we’re letting the folks that are most able to schedule an appointment online for a vaccine get ahead of some of the people with the most need.
Everyone should take a moment and recognize that someone who is on dialysis has to leave their home several times a week for treatment and maybe they should get a vaccine before someone who is older but able to remain socially distant easily.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:30 am
Fauci: All Americans should be eligible for COVID vaccines by April
https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/fauci-predicts-covid-19-vaccine-open-season-by-april/507-852d9b73-4549-4143-87e4-25debe7f3843
Comment by Andrea Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:32 am
I follow a number of worldwide news feeds. If other countries actions mean anything, closing bars was shown to have greatest effect on limiting the spread of covid. Restaurant capacity didn’t have anywhere close to the same effect.
Chicago is doing the exact opposite. Expanding bar access in Chicago on Valentine’s Day may lead to another spike.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:34 am
It’s all semantics until we have more vaccines.
Comment by Roman Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:39 am
It absolutely is a free for all. Appointments mean nothing, even though it’s being touted as necessary. Having been at a facility dispensing vaccines, with my appointment, someone behind me just stepped in, said no appointment and was served just fine. One thought is, good—more vaccines in arms, better off we all are. But what about those who aren’t able to get around well, don’t have internet access or saavy, the elderly with serious health conditions?
There needs to be some organization and method to all of this. I guess there will always be cheaters, but something better needs to happen.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:43 am
so they can’t vaccinate enough to stop the spread but Lightfoot is not stopping the spread because she’s expanding access in places where people will use their mouths to eat and drink. well ok then.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:44 am
Clearly by these actions the budgets in Chicago and Cook County are more important than the COVID pandemic
Comment by Swimdad13 Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:53 am
=== This is the right call. We don’t have anywhere near enough vaccines for the current 1B population ===
Vaccinating 25 year old grocery store employees who are at little risk of serious harm ahead of 50 year-old women battling breast cancer who or those living with HIV who are also immunocompromised is never the right call.
Let’s be honest: SEIU and UFCW did a bang-up job of lobbying Pritzker to put their members toward the front of the line. The AIDS Foundation, Cancer Foundation, Lung Association and Heart Association did a terrible job, comparatively speaking.
I give Pritzker credit for trying to course correct. Instead of ignoring his obvious mistake, Preckwinkle and Lightfoot need to figure out why they cannot manage to do what 101 other public health departments in Illinois have figured out how to do.
Comment by Ferris Wheeler Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:53 am
PS: Mayor Lightfoot, if you don’t have enough vaccine, maybe stop opening restaurants and bars.
Comment by Ferris Wheeler Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:55 am
I’m confused. Just the other day I say reports saying Illinois was way behind in getting people vaccinated and the Governor is reponsible for that. Today it seems like this is due to very limited supply. That wouldn’t be the Governor’s fault. Sounds like people are blaiming the Governor for low vaccination rates due to limited supply. Also, this is a global problem not limited to the USA. At least we didn’t have to waste millions of doses like Japan becuase we don’t have the right syringes. Also, it seems they got a late start to begin with. Again we are fighting a global battle 1 town/state/country at a time. We really need to think globally if we are going to beat this.
Comment by Publius Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:00 am
The governor did the right call in lowering the age, too many Black and Brown people have died at ages between 65 and 75.
This was also a great move to address the high death rates in minority communities. Other states are moving in this direction.
Lori should focus more on addressing all the vaccines sitting on the shelves. Something something about glass houses.
Comment by Equity Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:02 am
The City of Chicago gets its own vaccine supply from the Feds, but Cook County gets its vaccine from the state.
I don’t understand how Cook County thinks it can declare people ineligible that the state says are eligible.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:11 am
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 10:00 am:
CDC 1b is also frontline essential workers
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:35 am
Tribune: “The Pritzker administration said the expansion is possible due to increased federal vaccine shipments to the state under the Biden administration and because Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose COVID-19 vaccine is on track for emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration as soon as the end of the month.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-phase-1b-medical-conditions-20210210-yxt6txda4nethnmhiduaypy4xi-story.html
Comment by Andrea Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:39 am
I share this confusion: “I don’t understand how Cook County thinks it can declare people ineligible that the state says are eligible.”
I see nothing in the Exec Orders that would permit this - but maybe I’m missing something…
Comment by WestBurbs Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:40 am
== I don’t understand how Cook County thinks it can declare people ineligible that the state says are eligible. ==
Right or wrong, Sangamon County had more restrictive rules in place for a while.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 11:51 am
Interesting. Political leaders from the same state, party and geographic region can’t agree on policy around Covid. But they were all demanding that Trump create a national policy. Governing is harder than it looks.
Comment by Trulia Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 12:26 pm
To the update;
=== Federal guidance already includes this vulnerable group, and the Governor is particularly invested in expanding access because this group includes a disproportionately large share of vulnerable people of color.===
This is the line in the sand the Governor’s office wants, making clear to the mayor of the city of Chicago, and the President of the Cook County Board… you disagree with the federal guidelines, look exactly whom you are lining up against.
That mere snippet, that’s not only Governors Own, it’s a reminder that this governor sees the guidelines as the map forward, not the political calculation by the mayor and president choosing what they think sounds like “smart math to supply and demand”
This is “part 1,638” where local leadership, while seemingly being thoughtful and practical to their seemed situation(s) are still too myopic to the bigger picture(s) a governor sees and knows.
It’s craftily well written by Bittner.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 12:29 pm
=== Interesting. Political leaders from the same state, party and geographic region can’t agree on policy around Covid. But they were all demanding that Trump create a national policy. Governing is harder than it looks.===
LOL, you should reread your logic here.
A national policy that makes uniform decisions and policy in that best interests takes the governing angst away, but then forces the governing follow through.
It appears the locals ignoring the “guidelines” makes clear, yet again, the lack of a national plan (this far with this new administration in this instance, mere guidelines) allows too much decision making on the ground that can differ.
The governor is trying for uniformity to guidelines.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 12:32 pm
=== And Trump’s restriction of flights from China===
Friend, there was no national mask mandate, the White House went out of its way to say “it’s up to the states”, you had Michigan bidding against Arizona, who was bidding against Nevada.
Your “international” example to also mouth-breathe “China” isn’t like a national medical or pandemic plan. At all.
=== The point is that the city, county…===
Same as it ever was.
Mayors need to learn… Governors outrank em.
That isn’t a new phenomenon, this learning.
It was fun reading the “China”… at least you didn’t go all racially charged, just “China”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 12:44 pm
Those at high risk of a fatal outcome from COVID should have been at the front of the line all along.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 12:47 pm
OW, you missed “…all the Washington elite.”
China and Washington elite in the same sentence. Trulia gets kudos from Hannity.
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 1:00 pm
===… you missed “…all the Washington elite.”===
That’s is on me, my eyes glossed over then rolled back. Apologies.
:)
The key to this is trying to deprogram that what *was* an alleged national plan was nothing but making every state and city fend for themselves.
Intra-state feudal rankings, (Governor to a Mayor) the lack of a national plan, outside a “guideline”, that would strengthen a better overall vision to “what’s next”
As a non Washington elite, what do I know anyway.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 1:05 pm
== We really need to think globally if we are going to beat this.==
All politics is local.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 1:30 pm
The part that bother me is that restaurant workers are in 1b and people who have COVID related complications are not. I rather save someone at risk of dying from the disease than help some restaurant open quicker.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 1:36 pm
=== All politics is local.===
Alleged smart and savvy politics (or truly awful local political posturing) isn’t helping a larger swath of constitutents.
There’s that too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 1:48 pm
As one with a family member who is high of risk of covid death- cancer, high blood pressure, obese and part of lung missing- this group needs to be part of the current roll out. I have seen too many so called health are workers who are working from home recieve the vaccine and too many educaiton folks who are working from home receive the vaccine. This is group that is dying and should be up in priority. At least, separate them out of the huge 1c group that includes so many WFH folks. Enough is enough- we need to priortize this group.
Comment by Hoping for the Future Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 2:21 pm
Some relevant news this week from New York.
https://www.brooklynpaper.com/medgar-evers-college-to-serve-as-mass-vax-site-for-socially-vulnerable-communities/
Crown Heights’ Medgar Evers College will soon serve as a mass vaccination site for some of the borough’s most vulnerable, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.
The college on Montgomery Street between Franklin and Bedford avenues will have the capacity to administer 3,000 shots per day, making it among the largest mass vaccination sites in the state once it opens the week of Feb. 24, according to Cuomo.
Medgar Evers is one of two new vaccination hubs earmarked for “socially vulnerable” communities. The site, as well as one at York College in Queens, will utilize a special federal dosage allocation for communities that have been underserved by vaccination efforts so far, according to Cuomo, and appointments will be for borough-residents only.
Comment by Rich Hill Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 2:25 pm
===All politics is local.===
I think you’ve missed the meaning of this expression. For example, climate change is a planet wide problem of horrific proportions that requires a global effort to address.
That does not mean that someone’s unnecessary and redundant township should be crafting climate change policy, and that all townships need to craft their own climate change policy.
What it means is the impact of climate change is felt and expressed locally (when the Shawnee National Forest catches fire we’ll care more than when Australia’s did) and that solutions are implemented locally.
The politics behind outrage to efforts to make all lighting more energy efficient is an example of how ‘all politics is local’ can be exploited to take advantage of the gullible and stupid.
Mayors and Governors will always have different priorities and here’s an example of where municipal leaders are expressing interest in a different priority than the Governor, and using it as an opportunity to make an incredibly savvy demand for more vaccine doses for their city which might be under appreciated by most of the public.
If you want to see a real example of how “politics is local” plays out, check out which vaccination sites on the IDPH Website still have appointments available, check out which counties those are in, and which communities they’re in, and take a gander at how they voted in 2020.
The Mayor of Chicago and Governor of Illinois are still on the same page with the same goal. The goal of the press conference was to create external pressure on the Governor to up the amount of vaccine available for Chicago, not to neg the Governor, and not to suggest others don’t need the vaccine.
My post above was me saying, “if you can wait, wait because others might need it more” but with too many words.
I should also add — a competent and confident political actor would expect the leadership of the City of Chicago to do something like this, and appreciate that they did, because they could then get on the phone with their U.S. Senators, or someone in the White House and point to the press conference and statements made, and politely beg or insist.
Sometimes it’s also helpful to have a new reason to politely beg or insist.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 2:31 pm
==I think you’ve missed the meaning of this expression. ==
Well I was replying to Publius and we were discussing COVID. But since you brought it up, Candy, if I’ve missed the meaning of the phrase “all politics is local” it’s probably too late for me to get a refund from the University of Illinois Poli Sci Dept. which is where it was heavily stressed in practical terms in Poli Sci 101, 102, and 104. While I may have been dubious at the time, my adult life experiences and observations have shown that it’s actually pretty true.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 3:06 pm
A global pandemic framed in “All politics is local” is the doubled-edge sword of pure ignorance and and unhelpful thinking to the myopic issues that lose sight of masks, social distancing and vaccines… and realizing things done locally, helps the bigger picture globally.
The last thing that’s needed are local officials seemingly comparing this to a lack of garbage cans for a town or ward… so if garbage piles up, it’ll likely piling up… everywhere too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 3:13 pm
Let’s call this what it is - Lightfoot and Preckwinkle want to deflect criticism away from their inability to turn around what they already have in hand. It’s a cheap political stunt. It’s everyone else’s fault when it comes to this mayor and here we go, again.
Comment by Shytown Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 3:32 pm
Dr. Fauci urged people to consider getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, because though it has less efficacy, only one shot is needed, and it protects people from the worst of the virus.
Perhaps it’s not so bad. If the Chicago Machine ran the vaccination program, people would need clout to get a vaccine. If not, who sent them? They’d first have to get a ward committee person’s letter and buy fundraising tickets.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Feb 11, 21 @ 3:39 pm