Guide to Scheduling a COVID-19 Vaccination at Off-Site Clinics in Cook County, Illinois
All Eligible for those 16 years of age and older
Announcements:
All county and city mass vaccination sites are open to walk-ins!
(5/1/2021) - Zocdoc at https://www.zocdoc.com/vaccine/search/IL?flavor=state-search has many appointments - open to all Illinois-based residents!
(5/1/2021) - Another event in Old Town on May 4th and 25th at the Moody Church on 1630 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL, schedule appointments here: https://kordinator.mhealthcoach.net/vcl/1619115117391
(4/25/2021) - All Chicago and Illinois mass sites are open to walk-ins! Evanston is open to appointments to anyone 16 years of age or older.
(4/19/2021) - A free no-cost text-based service to provide appointment availability near your Zip code: sign-up here: https://www.findacovid19vaccine.com (not affiliated with NU or this committee)
(4/19/2021) - Live in Evanston? Consider taking a rideshare with windows opened in the vehicle or the intercampus shuttle (normal schedule has returned) to Rogers Park or Streeterville or other parts of Chicago e.g. Walgreens, Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s (they have more availability)
(4/19/2021) - UIC has appointments today and this week! Go here to schedule it: https://mychart-openscheduling.et1085.epichosted.com/MyChart/covid19#/
(4/18/2021) - Local event with Pfizer in Old Town on April 22, open to anyone living in Chicago, schedule here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pfizer-covid-19-vaccination-clinic-april-22-tickets-150668498535
(4/10/2021) - Many open spots in Gary, Indiana, only 40 minutes from Chicago! Anyone is eligible as long as you are 16 years of age or older! Go here: https://vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov/en-US/
Daily Updates:
Want to get instant email updates when appointments drop? Provide your email here: https://forms.gle/ynGEDgm8PZYHq9LK6
Alternative System with daily updates - no affiliation:: Sign up here for appointment availability called Vaccine Pickle (recommend only using a real email and zip code but everything else not real to avoid spam) - will send you an email when a lot is open - checks availability constantly and sends almost daily emails to you! https://vp.d35zanfa4rowy2.amplifyapp.com/
Background: Access to the 2-dose mRNA-based Pfizer or Moderna as well as the 1-dose adenovirus Johnson and Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 provided by Illinois Department of Health, Cook County Department of Health, and Chicago Department of Health has expanded to more eligibility phases.
Beginning April 19th (Chicago), all individuals 16 years and older have access to the vaccines at Chicago-based clinics.
Beginning April 12th (Illinois and Cook County not Chicago), all individuals 16 years and older in Illinois including Cook County and Chicago have access to the vaccines, anyone can go to these events outside of Chicago.. For those in Evanston, make sure to register here for emails of local events: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/27LBXZK
Fast method to check availability before trying to schedule at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart - still strongly recommend you check on your own if time is available: https://www.vaxxmax.com/ or at https://www.vaccinespotter.org/IL/
Who Has Access:
Vaccine Options
- Had COVID? It is still recommended that you receive the vaccination!
- Most places have the 2 dose, either Pfizer or Moderna
- Very few places have 1 dose - Johnson and Johnson (CVS, some mass vaccination sites) NOTE: ON PAUSE!
List of Locations with Vaccine Appointments in Cook County and Chicago**
**Level of difficulty regarding their appointment system (1 being worst 5 being best)
**Very limited availability across all sites
- (NEW) One-off Events - events listed under announcements
- Sign up for local alderman email listservs to get information on local off-off vaccine events (usually open to 1A, 1B, 1B+, and 1C)
- Sometimes they have leftover vaccines at the end of the event for anyone (arrive 30 minutes before the end of the even) - do not harass or bother staff if not available
- Register with name, phone number, date of birth, email and then you receive a unique registration code - for those in higher ed e.g. universities or colleges please select Non-Frontline Essential Worker under Category
- Book an appointment at individual sites (requires checking multiple locations for available appointments and their times)
- Alternatively call 1-833-308-1988 - they have more access to spots than online appointments
- Usually one one day or multiple day events located at various counties across IL
- (NEW!) Chicago added United Center for 1B+
- https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/united-center.html
- Go to zocdoc.com/vaccine to make this appointment or call them at 312-746-4835.
- If living in ZIP codes - new ZIP codes added: 60608, 60609, 60619, 60620, 60621, 60623, 60624, 60628, 60629, 60632, 60636, 60639, 60644, 60649, 60651, 60652, 60653
- If you do not have a car, when you receive your appointment confirmation it will ask about transportation - if you answer you do not have transportation - it will provide you with an uber code for $40 dollars of credit each way to the United Center
Specific Pharmacies and Clinics
- Appointments seem to open up in the morning exactly at 12 am and some cancellations throughout the day
- Select location by putting in Chicago, IL
- Limited to a few locations south of Chicago and western suburbs
- Then select date - then it shows available times
- Register with name, phone number, date of birth, email, and insurance information
- Appointments seem to open up between 5:00 am and 7:15 am and randomly throughout the day
- Must be logged in - register and create an account with name, phone number, date of birth, address, phone number, email (must be logged in to schedule) - some recommend the Walgreens app to see more appointments
- Answer set of screening questions
- Check by Zip code
- Book an appointment at individual sites
- Alternatively book via automated phone line at 1-800-925-4733 (provide nearest zip code, date of birth, and phone number of account)
- Instructions - (One dose J and J option available as an option but not accessible in term of appointments in addition to the two dose Moderna)
- Appointments seem to open up between 11 pm and 12 midnight on Saturday or Sunday or throughout the weekend, check throughout the week
- Answer set of screening questions
- Choose location using Zip code and then look for appointments by date - then it shows available times
- Register and create an account with name, phone number, date of birth, email
- Instructions - release at 12 am
- Answer set of eligibility questions
- Enter date of birth
- Enter name of town or zip code
- Schedule appointment
- Add your name, phone number, date of birth, email
- Links work when appointments are available
- Check daily for appointment slots and times
- Once a slot is available - schedule the appointment
- Answer set of screening questions
- Register and create an account with name, phone number, date of birth, email
- Choose location by date - then it shows available times
- Schedule appointment
- Appointments seem to open up between 11 pm and 12 midnight
- Make sure to create a Walmart account first or call 1-833-886-0023, select option 2 to schedule an appointment
- Select location using ZIP code
- Then select date - then it shows available times
- Register and create an account with name, phone number, date of birth, email
- Best to call the general line at 1-833-886-0023
- Choose by location and vaccine type to find availability
- Preselect the dates
- Provide name, date of birth, phone number, and email address
- Spots released at midnight
- Find an available time and slot
- Provide name, date of birth, phone number, and email address
- Taking appointments over the phone limited to those 65 and older or with underlying health conditions
References:
1. Illinois reference to phases: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-distribution
2. Chicago reference to phases: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/vaccine-distribution-phases.html
Prepared by: NUCC - Northwestern University COVID-19 Committee (comprised of Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Associates)