Updated COVID-19 vaccine to be available next week in Chicago, officials say

The updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Chicago by next week, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Doses of the vaccine were expected to begin shipping this week and be available within five to 12 days at clinics and pharmacies throughout Chicago, according to the health department.

At Walgreens, appointments can be scheduled immediately and will begin nationwide starting Sept. 18, according to a spokesperson with the drugstore chain.

“We have heard the vaccine has started to make its way to Chicago,” said Gira Patel, projects administrator for the health department. “We haven’t seen it come in from the orders that we placed earlier in the week, but it has started to make it to some of the retail facilities.”

People with private health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare coverage should go to a pharmacy or doctor’s office to get the updated vaccine, the health department said. People who are uninsured or underinsured can visit a federally qualified health clinic.

Uninsured individuals can get the updated vaccine at one of the health department’s three immunization clinics: the Greater Lawn clinic, 4150 W. 55th St; Uptown WIC clinic, 845 W. Wilson Ave. and Lower West clinic, 1713 S. Ashland Ave. People without insurance also may attend the health department’s family COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics at City Colleges from Oct. 7 to Nov. 18.

Vaccinations will be available at no cost, regardless of whether someone has insurance or their immigration status, according to the health department.

Major pharmacies participating in the federal Bridge Access Program — which provides free COVID-19 vaccinations for uninsured and underinsured adults through the end of 2024 — will also be providing the updated vaccine.

The new vaccine targets currently circulating strains of the virus, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition to the updated vaccine, the health department is also encouraging annual flu shots for everyone over 6 months old.

“We need to protect ourselves not only for COVID-19. We need the protection also for influenza and for RSV,” Dr. Geraldine Luna, medical director of the health department’s COVID-19 response, said at a news conference Thursday.