(WTTW News via CNN)
Flowers, candy and jewelry are all go-to Mother’s Day gifts. But this year, Cook County officials say the No. 1 gift can’t be bought in a store.
“This year all your mother wants for Mother’s Day is for you to get vaccinated,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday.
Officials appealed directly to younger adults who are less likely to get vaccinated. “If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for your mother or grandmother,” Preckwinkle said. “It costs you nothing and can save your mother’s life.”
Dr. Rachel Rubin, who lost both her parents to COVID-19, said vaccination is key to ending the pandemic.
“Use Mother’s Day this year to get you and your loved ones vaccinated,” said Rubin, co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “We finally have enough to go around and we need to encourage those who are not vaccinated to do so. We don’t need to lose more mothers to COVID.”
Officials say getting a vaccine is easier than ever as all six of the county’s mass vaccination sites now allow walk-in appointments.
To make the process more entertaining, four of the county’s mass vaccination sites will feature live music on Saturday. Performances by the Chicago Federation of Music will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Des Plaines, Matteson, Forest Park and Tinley Park mass vaccination sites.
Not only does getting vaccinated protect the special women in your life, it helps artists, too.
“Please go get vaccinated so concert halls, theaters, music venues and other indoor spaces can fully reopen,” said BJ Levy, Chicago Federation of Music secretary-treasury. “We very much look forward to seeing audience back in their seats.”
For information about suburban Cook County COVID-19 vaccinations, including how to register for an appointment, visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or call 833-308-1988, which operates 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.
Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | (773) 509-5452 | [email protected]
