Updates from Access Living:
New Vaccine Guidelines for Youth, Transportation, and Vaccine Survey for Disability Community
Today we have new vaccine information we want to share with you, including:
- Vaccination guidelines for children ages 12-15
- Updated transportation options to get to and from vaccination appointments
- Details about Access Living’s survey to assess barriers preventing people with disabilities from getting COVID-19 vaccinations
Illinois Children Vaccine Eligibility Update
On May 11, the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12-15. The CDC granted full approval today, meaning that children aged 12-15 can be vaccinated for COVID-19 at City of Chicago vaccine sites starting Thursday, May 13.
All young people in this age range are encouraged to get the vaccine, which is safe and effective in children and adults. More details:
- No appointments are necessary, but you are encouraged to pre-register through the City’s call center at (312) 746-4835 or online by using the ZocDoc online portal. City-operated vaccine site appointments for Thursday can be booked now
- Effective Thursday, all vaccine sites will accept walk-ins for 12-15 year olds. (Appointments to anyone 16+ living in Chicago are still available as well.)
- A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under the age of 18. Unvaccinated parents and guardians will be encouraged to receive the vaccine as well.
- Here is a list of the City-operated vaccination sites with Pfizer vaccines that will be open to youth aged 12 and older.
Ride credits from Uber and Lyft
- If you use ZocDoc to book a walk-up vaccine appointment at the United Center, you can elect to receive $40 in Uber credits to use for rides to and from the United Center (within Chicago city limits). Please note – At this time the United Center is only offering DRIVE-THRU appointments for minors ages 12-15. The Uber credit is not currently available for these appointments.
- In two weeks, anyone needing a ride to a COVID-19 vaccine shot will be able to get a free trip from Lyft or Uber. The White House announced Tuesday. People will be able to sign up for a ride code from Lyft starting May 24. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
Survey: COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Illinois Disability Community
Access Living is invested in supporting the health and wellness of people with disabilities, and we are exploring how Access Living can best support people with disabilities in learning about and accessing a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are a person with a disability and a resident of Chicago or Illinois, please consider taking this survey to share your thoughts. If you’ve already gotten a vaccine, take the survey to tell us about the accessibility of the experience! The survey will be open until Friday, May 14. We appreciate your input!