The Chicago Dental Society has received many emails and calls from members with questions about vaccine distribution.

We want to assure you that CDS has reached out directly to administrators of the health departments in suburban Cook, DuPage and Lake counties, offering to act as a conduit to reach dentists, who are in Phase 1A to receive the vaccine. While health departments likely have direct relationships with hospitals, many dentists are independent practitioners and that is why CDS has offered to the health department to carry their messages to dentists.

Additionally, we have learned that the communities of Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie and Stickney Township have independent health jurisdictions and are making distribution plans independent of county entities, though they are likely in communication.

Below is a summary of information and links from the websites of Chicago area health departments to help answer questions you have.

We continue to follow vaccine distribution developments carefully and will provide information as we have it. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
City of Chicago Public Health Department

Vaccination Options for Healthcare Personnel Not Affiliated with Hospitals or
Health Systems
 
Healthcare providers and persons at risk of exposure to patients who could be infected with COVID-19 are one of the first groups recommended for COVID-19 vaccination.
 
The Chicago Department of Public (CDPH) is making vaccination plans for the staff of clinics and facilities not associated with a hospital or their health system. This will include the staff of outpatient clinics, dental offices, urgent care facilities, independent pharmacies, home care companies, dialysis centers, and mortuary services staff (including morticians and funeral home workers).
 
To assist with planning, CDPH requests that 1 representative from your clinic/facility (e.g., the clinic administrator or business owner) complete the survey at 
Cook County Public Health Department

Vaccination for COVID-19 in suburban Cook County will be rolled out in phases, based on national guidance. There will be a very limited supply in the beginning. As a result vaccines will be prioritized for:

  • Healthcare workers – particularly those who treat COVID patients. Hospitals will vaccinate their own employees.
  • Residents and staff at long-term care facilities. Long-term care facilities are part of a federal program that works with pharmacies to vaccinate residents and staff.

CCPHD is using the information collected from the survey link below to aid in vaccination planning and support with coordination of resources across the region. According to the the CCPHD website, "We are currently establishing an overall coordinated approach for the ongoing communication and engagement with all stakeholders for the duration of the COVID-19 response, largely focusing on vaccination."
DuPage County Health Department

COVID-19 vaccination for Healthcare Personnel in DuPage County

All healthcare personnel (HCP) as defined by CDC fall under Phase 1a for COVID-19 vaccination. For at least the first 6-8 weeks, COVID-19 vaccination efforts by DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) are focusing on Phase 1a (including HCP), distributing received vaccine supply first to hospitals, as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health. 

DCHD is also finalizing Point of Dispensing (PODs) plans and locations; the schedule of these COVID-19 vaccination clinics for HCP is anticipated in 2-4 weeks. These vaccination clinics will be appointment-based, and more information will be posted as plans are finalized on DCHD’s COVID-19 vaccine page at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine. 

We’ll be actively promoting the (drive-through) vaccination clinic information as our schedule is finalized and as we begin receiving vaccine allocation for non-hospital-associated HCP, who will be our focus at DCHD PODs/vaccination clinics. Please sign up for weekly updates at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19vaccine.
Lake County Health Department

A portal is on the department's health department website to register for the vaccine.
Evanston Health and Human Services Department

The Evanston Health and Human Services Department (EHHS) is following the phased approach recommended by both the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are currently in Phase 1A which consists of Healthcare Workers and long-term care residents. Since the availability of vaccines will be scarce initially, IDPH has specified the first few shipments are designated for hospital healthcare workers. The vaccine will soon be available to healthcare workers not affiliated with a hospital. EHHS will provide a date and location for you and your staff to get vaccinated. 
 
In order to ensure we have enough vaccines when they become available for your group, please fill out this survey at this link:
Oak Park Health Department

As of Dec. 16, 2020, all vaccine coming to Oak Park is being allocated to Rush Oak Park Hospital and West Suburban Medical Center for their health care workers.

Updates on the supply of vaccine will be posted on this website before the end of the year.

Oak Park residents who qualify in the first round (Phase 1A), but are not being vaccinated through their employers, will need to register for vaccination. Registration details will be available when the online registration platform is provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health. A statewide shared platform is essential to tracking vaccinations since a second dose of the vaccine will be required either 21 or 28 days after the first dose.
Skokie Health and Human Services Department

The Skokie Health and Human Services Department is preparing to receive COVID-19 vaccine upon its Emergency Use Authorization approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Initial, but limited, shipments of the vaccine are anticipated to be received this month. This initial vaccine will be administered to front-line healthcare workers, long-term care residents and Skokie’s first responders. The vaccine supply is projected to increase quickly over the coming weeks and months, allowing Skokie’s vaccination efforts to be expanded to include additional critical populations and the general public.

The department does not currently have a survey or link for healthcare professionals to complete. The email address for the department is www.skokie.org.
Stickney Public Health District

The district's website does not offer a survey for healthcare professionals to complete. For further information, see its website at http://www.stickneypublichealthdistrict.org/emergency_response.html
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