Health
How Can You Get the COVID-19 Vaccine in Illinois? State to Make Its Own Recommendations as FDA Limits Eligibility
The COVID-19 vaccine might be more difficult to get this fall after the Food and Drug Administration announced tightened guidelines for who’s eligible for the updated shot.
The shots are approved for people who are 65 and older, and those younger with a health condition that makes them vulnerable to severe COVID-19. That includes people with asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression, a history of smoking or physical inactivity.
Medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics — and some states — are breaking from the federal guidelines by expanding their recommendations. Previously, the COVID-19 vaccine has been recommended for everyone 6 months and older.
Illinois’ own immunization advisory committee is expected to meet at the end of September to make vaccine recommendations to the state, according to Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra.
This comes as changes to the federal COVID-19 guidelines have caused confusion and frustration among those looking to get the latest vaccine.
Vohra joined Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige and Cook County Department of Public Health Chief Operating Officer Dr. Kiran Joshi on “Chicago Tonight” to discuss the federal changes.
WTTW News: What do you say to people who want to get the COVID-19 vaccine this fall, but are hearing all of this conflicting information?
Joshi: “I would say that, first and foremost, all three of our agencies are working closely together to ensure that there’s clear information, trusted information and access to vaccines to all who may benefit. We all believe that science should drive public health guidance, so our message here is very simple: Vaccines are safe, they’re effective and they’re the best tool we have to prevent severe illness and hospitalization. For COVID specifically, getting the vaccine, even though the pandemic has waned and is over, getting the vaccine is far safer than getting the virus, and most people — putting aside the FDA guidelines — most people will benefit from staying up to date, particularly those at highest risk, and that includes older adults, people with chronic conditions and those with weaker immune systems.”
We know that some pharmacies have already begun giving the latest COVID-19 vaccine. What have you been hearing from the community about whether they’re having difficulty in getting the vaccine?
Ige: “In Chicago, we’ve heard that some people are being turned away from pharmacies who want the vaccines because the pharmacies are hesitant to prescribe what we say now is ‘off label’ if you don’t fall into the category that has been identified by the FDA. This is the challenge that we have. We want everyone to be able to get this vaccine who wants it. Now, if the FDA says this vaccine is only approved for 65 plus, or if you have a condition, then it means that pharmacies no longer have the freedom to prescribe this for people even if they want it, and this is our challenge as health care providers, as public health professionals. If there is a life-saving intervention, if there is a preventative intervention that’s available, we want that to be available for everyone who needs it and who wants it.”
So, where can you get the latest COVID-19 vaccine?
Joshi: “I think it’s important to talk to a health care professional, that could be your physician, a pharmacist or your local health department about staying up to date. Again, if you’re at higher risk, in particular, don’t delay. We are doing our part to ensure that anyone who wants to get access is going to have access. We’re planning a number of free vaccination clinics over the next three to four months at the five Cook County Health community clinics in suburban Cook County.”
Is Illinois planning on creating its own policies, as some other states have, to broaden access to the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vohra: “The state has an immunization advisory committee, and over the last few months, we have been working to bolster that committee with the state’s leading experts in epidemiology, our local public health leaders, pediatrics, OBGYN, immunology, to really understand and better address Illinois data and then determine what are the best recommendations for our residents. We’re planning to have a meeting of this group at the end of September to make recommendations to the state on the guidance that is those things that we’re missing right now from the federal government — credible, transparent, evidence-informed, scientifically based — to ensure that we are looking at those recommendations, talking to other states, medical societies, really making sure that we’re doing a thorough process to ensure that IDPH, in partnership with our local health departments like Cook County and the city of Chicago, really aligning around the best evidence and ensuring that science leads the way to allow people to get the vaccine that will help them during this fall respiratory season.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
