SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY EXPANDS VACCINE ELIGIBILITY TO REMAINING PHASE 1C ESSENTIAL WORKERS 

Forest Park, IL—The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) today expanded vaccine eligibility to the final groups of essential workers included in Phase 1C.  All essential workers – including clergy, restaurant staff, energy, legal, retail and transportation and logistics – are now eligible to receive vaccine. 

“Today, we move forward in Cook County’s COVID-19 vaccination program and are pleased to expand eligibility to Phase 1C, which includes additional categories of essential workers,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This will expand on our equitable distribution of vaccine and build on the progress we’ve made in earlier phases of our program.”  

These final groups of essential workers represent the last eligible groups before all adults age 16 and over are vaccine eligible in the coming weeks. Among industries covered by the final group of essential workers, are: transportation and logistics, utilities, manufacturing, residential and shelter facilities, financial services, and defense-related activities.  A complete list can be found on the CCDPH website. 

“Cook County Health has administered more than 350,000 vaccinations to date; well on our way to our goal on one million. We’re proud to contribute so significantly to the vaccination of over 620,000 suburban Cook County residents so far,” said Israel Rocha, CEO, Cook County Health. “While we are confident that vaccine supply will be increasing, we continue to ask for patience as demand remains very high.” 

The final Phase 1C workers – food preparation and serving, construction and religious leaders – are an estimated 100,000 residents of suburban Cook County. The population of Phases 1B and 1B+ and IC is estimated about 1 million total residents.  When all adults 16 and older are eligible, another approximately 1.4 million residents will be able to register for appointments. 

“We are making great progress in our vaccinations: over 25 percent of all residents in suburban Cook County and more than 80 percent of those age 65 and older have received at least one dose,” said Dr. Rachel Rubin, Senior Medical Officer and Co-Lead of CCDPH. “We are building an impressive county-wide system to administer vaccines to as many of our 2.5 million residents who want one and will be able to equitably and efficiently administer them if the vaccine supply can match the demand.”