Latest Updates
Last Updated January 13, 2021
The City of Chicago is making plans for a transitional COVID-19 vaccine distribution phase, bridging phase 1A and 1B. Hospitals and outpatient sites enrolled as COVID-19 vaccine providers will continue to prioritize healthcare workers, especially non-hospital based healthcare workers in tier 1A, for vaccination. Starting January 18, if vaccination providers have vaccine available and do not have tier 1A healthcare workers scheduled for vaccination, they may move to highest risk individuals that are over 65 years old and live or work in Chicago.
Prioritization will be given to patients over 75 years of age, or patients over 65 years of age with significant underlying conditions, based on clinical judgment. City-run Points of Dispensing (PODs) will continue to focus on providing vaccine to tier 1A healthcare workers, by appointment only. While we wait for the federal government to send more vaccine doses, we continue working hard to make sure this vaccine is prioritized for populations who are most at risk for severe outcomes.
Guidelines for distribution
Following ACIP’s interim recommendation for vaccine allocation in Phase 1a, on December 22, 2020 the ACIP Work Group proposed vaccine allocation for Phases 1b and 1c. CDPH will follow federal and state guidelines for distributing the vaccine.
Phase
|
Group to be vaccinated in each phase
|
1a |
Health care personnel |
1b |
Frontline essential workers |
1c |
Persons aged 16–64 years with high-risk medical conditions |
2 |
All persons aged ≥16 years not previously recommended for vaccination |
Past Updates
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January 8, 2021
Administration of the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine began the week of January 4, 2021 for healthcare workers who received their first dose in mid-December 2020.
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December 19, 2020
On December 19, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the vaccine for ages 18 years and above. Also, a vote on Tier 1b and 1c COVID-19 vaccine allocation is expected by ACIP Monday, December 21, 2020.
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December 18, 2020
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on December 18, 2020.
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December 17, 2020
Watch the Virtual Vaccine Town Hall to update the community on the COVID-19 vaccine. Representatives from the Chicago Department of Public Health provided the latest information and responded to questions. A Spanish language Town Hall is available as well as the presentation given.
Authorized and Recommended Vaccines
- Scientists and doctors have been working on vaccines since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Around the world, there are over two hundred currently in development.
- Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine has received authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19. We will provide information on who is and is not recommended to receive each vaccine and what to expect after vaccination, as well as ingredients, safety, and effectiveness.
Clinical Trials
- Currently, clinical trials are evaluating investigational COVID-19 vaccines in many thousands of study participants to generate scientific data and other information for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine their safety and effectiveness.
- These clinical trials are being conducted according to the rigorous standards set forth by FDA in their June 2020 guidance document, Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19.
- If FDA determines that a vaccine meets its safety and effectiveness standards, it can make these vaccines available for use in the United States by approval or emergency use authorization.
- After FDA makes its determination, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will review available data before making vaccine recommendations to CDC.
Vaccine | Status |
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine | Phase 3 clinical trial |
Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine | Phase 3 clinical trial |
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine | Distribution in Chicago |
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine | Phase 3 clinical trial |
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine | Distribution in Chicago |
COVID-19 Vaccine Status
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on December 18, 2020.
- On December 19, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the vaccine for ages 18 years and above.
- The FDA has posted meeting materials for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting on December 17, 2020 to review the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine EUA application.
- The FDA has posted meeting materials for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting on December 10, 2020 to review the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine EUA application.
- Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are under development and in various stages of approval.
Vaccine | Status |
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine | Phase 3 clinical trial |
Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine | Phase 3 clinical trial |
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine | Distribution in Chicago |
Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine | Phase 3 clinical trial |
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine | Distribution in Chicago |
CDC definition of phase 3 clinical trial
- On November 20, 2020, Pfizer applied to FDA for emergency use authorization (EUA) for their COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier Pfizer announced that its Phase 3 trial efficacy analysis has found its vaccine candidate is 95% effective. The study enrolled over 43,000 participants and has not uncovered any serious safety concerns.
- Moderna’s phase 3 trial includes 30,000 participants and has not uncovered any serious safety concerns. On November 30, 2020, Moderna applied to FDA for emergency use authorization (EUA) for their COVID-19 vaccine. Primary efficacy analysis of the Phase 3 study found vaccine efficacy against COVID-19 was 94.1%.
- As of November 20, 2020, two additional vaccines are in the last stage of clinical trials in the U.S.
- AstraZeneca recently reported results from its Phase III clinical trial in Brazil and the United Kingdom indicating strong vaccine effectiveness among participants in their Phase 3 clinical trials.
- Diversity in clinical trials is important to demonstrate the vaccine is safe and effective for all persons. Diversity in current clinical trials:
- 28% of Moderna trial participants are from “diverse communities”
- 75% of UIC’s Moderna trial participants from racial/ethnic minorities
- 26% of Pfizer/BioNTech trial participants have “diverse backgrounds”
- Most vaccine products will be provided in 2-dose series, and some vaccine products will require special storage and handling (e.g., ultra-cold storage).
Vaccine Rollout
At first, there will be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government plans to ship the first vaccine doses out for distribution once a vaccine is authorized or approved and recommended. As more vaccines are available, federal planners will ship additional vaccine doses. For more information see COVID-19 Vaccine Planning in Chicago.