Cook County Opens Fourth Priority Vaccination Site at Thornton Township High School in Harvey

Priority Sites Aim To Achieve Equitable Vaccination  

Forest Park, IL—Cook County Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) today announced the opening of a fourth Priority Vaccination Site at Thornton Township High School in Harvey to serve several of the County’s 32 Priority Communities in its Vaccination Program. Priority Sites are strategically located to draw residents from surrounding municipalities from the 32 Priority Communities identified earlier in the spring. 

“Equity is our goal and we know in order to achieve this goal, we must bring the vaccine closer to people’s homes, particularly when access to transportation might be a barrier,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.  

The Harvey site will feature a choice of the Pfizer vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson option. Pfizer is available for children 12 and older, if accompanied by a parent or guardian, and will require a second vaccination appointment.   

“Hyper-local vaccination sites are part our overall strategy to remove barriers to vaccine access while recognizing that many people are more comfortable in their community,” said Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha. “Our vaccine strategy has been designed to reach every corner of Cook County.”  

Thornton Township High School joins two other active Priority Vaccination sites.  A site in Summit ended its six-week schedule last weekend. Residents may walk into each site between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Although residents do not need an appointment, they are encouraged to guarantee their vaccination by calling 312-864-0591. Each site has a unique link for communities they serve. (Please click here for the Harvey Site.) The other two Priority Vaccination Sites are located at: 

• Thornton Fractional High School South (Pfizer), Lansing (serving Lansing, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, South Chicago Heights, Harvey, South Holland, Dolton, Burnham); 

• West Leyden High School (Pfizer), Northlake (serving Norridge, Harwood Heights, Melrose Park, Maywood, Bellwood, Stone Park, Berkeley, Northlake, and Franklin Park. 

 “Many vulnerable suburban Cook County residents have been left behind due to economic, social, or medical barriers as well as historically racist policies and practices.” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, Senior Medical officer and Co-Lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “Protecting our most vulnerable populations from COVID-19 is the right thing to do and protects us all.”