Information on COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution for Phase 1b

January 25, 2021

On Monday, January 25, Provost Ka Yee C. Lee sent a message to members of the University community with information on Phase 1b vaccination distribution plans. Per the City of Chicago’s guidelines, individuals over the age of 65 are eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1b.

Starting at the end of January, the University and UChicago Medicine (UCM) will be making vaccines available to emeriti faculty and other members of the University who are over 65 as well as to UCM patients over the age of 65. People in these groups who live outside Chicago will still be able to get the vaccine if they are able to travel to UCM for their appointments. Vaccinations will be provided at no cost to the recipients; insurance will be billed.

Although this offer cannot currently be extended to spouses, partners, or dependents of emeriti faculty, those groups may be eligible separately if they have been UCM patients in the last 18 months. Below we highlight information from Provost Lee’s message that may be particularly relevant to emeriti families:

From Provost Lee’s message, January 25:

The Pfizer vaccine being used on our campus requires 2 doses approximately 3 weeks apart to be fully effective. The first round of vaccine doses for these populations will be offered on Sunday, January 31 and Sunday, February 7. Because of this rapid rollout, we encourage all eligible individuals to sign up as soon as possible this week, and no later than the close of business on Friday, January 29. The second doses will be scheduled for Sunday, February 21 or Sunday, February 28 depending on which day the first dose was received.

  • Vaccine Availability for Members of the University Community Age 65 and Older. Vaccines will be available for faculty emeriti who are 65 or over, and for people employed by the University who are 65 and older, including current faculty, OAAs, postdoctoral researchers, and staff. There are two possible ways for people in these populations to get vaccinated through UCM:
    • UCM Vaccine Clinic in Partnership with the University – People in the eligible over-65 University populations can register to be vaccinated on January 31 or February 7 for their first dose. These vaccinations will be provided through the UCM vaccine clinic in partnership with the University. You do not need to be a current UCM patient to register. All eligible individuals will receive a separate email with a link to a registration form, which will allow you to select the date and time preference for receiving your first dose of vaccine. After registering, individuals will be contacted with additional details, including appointment date and location.
    • Current UCM Patients – Individuals in this population who have been patients at the medical center at least once in the past 18 months may also be contacted through MyChart to schedule a vaccination appointment. This includes those who have been UCM inpatients, visited the Emergency Department, had a telehealth appointment, or received a COVID-19 test, among other services.
    • If in Doubt – Some UCM patients may prefer to set up an appointment using MyChart. If you have no preference, we recommend registering for the January 31 or February 7 dates, since this vaccine clinic has been arranged specifically for the University community.
  • UCM Patients Age 65 and Older. The UCM has begun vaccinating Phase 1b-eligible individuals who have been UCM patients at least once in the past 18 months. Efforts have initially focused on patients who live on the South Side, since the South Side has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and is a region where fewer residents have been vaccinated to date. The patient vaccination campaign will expand this week to include any patient 65 or over who has been seen by UCM in the past 18 months, regardless of where they live.

 

On January 26 emeriti faculty over age 65 will receive further information by email on how to sign up for vaccinations. UCM patients over 65, including spouses and partners of emeriti faculty, should be contacted through MyChart to set up an appointment.

Please note: If you have already registered for or received a COVID-19 vaccine through UCM or another authorized provider, you should keep those appointments. If you are already set to be vaccinated, this new opportunity is not meant to supplement or replace your existing vaccination plans. You should also not be vaccinated for COVID-19 if you have received any other type of vaccine in the previous 14 days.

If you are unable to take advantage of vaccination through the University, we encourage eligible individuals to be vaccinated through authorized providers at their first opportunity. For people under 65, we also look forward to the expanded eligibility of Phase 1c, which is currently planned to begin in Chicago on March 31. 

Our emeriti families live across the United States and abroad, and we have heard mixed reports of vaccine availability for those over 65 outside of Illinois. If you live outside Chicago and Illinois and have yet to register for a vaccination, we encourage you to review your state and city’s distribution plans.

If you have any questions, coronavirusinfo@uchicago.edu is your best source of vaccine information and contacts.