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City of Chicago Encourages Chicagoans to Get Vaccinated and “Protect their Health on the 12th”

09 November 2021

CPS schools closed, supports offered for students and families

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CPS Office of Communications

Phone: 773-553-1620
Website: www.cps.edu
Twitter: @chipubschools
Facebook: chicagopublicschools

Chicago – The City of Chicago is doubling down on efforts to get all Chicagoans vaccinated following last week’s federal approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children, ages 5 to 11. City health and education leaders Tuesday shared updates on the best way Chicagoans can connect with lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines – and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and “protect their health on the 12th.”

"The only way we can get through this crisis is by continuing to work together to protect each other," said Mayor Lightfoot. "I am beyond grateful to the many City agencies and departments who have stepped up to help us accomplish this mission and are bringing many resources to bear for Vaccination Awareness Day."

On Friday, November 12, Chicago Public Schools will be closed for Vaccination Awareness Day and City employees will receive two hours paid leave to get COVID-19 vaccines for themselves and their families.

“Vaccines are safe, effective, and the best way to protect our communities from COVID-19,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “I applaud this city-wide effort on Friday to help our children get vaccinated and eligible parents get their booster doses, making our schools even safer teaching and learning environments for staff, students, and families.”

The CPS central office will remain open to support the emphasis on vaccination with CPS CEO Pedro Martinez planning to visit several vaccination sites on Friday.

“As the parent of two children in the 5 to 11-year-old age group, I cannot wait for my kids to be vaccinated, and I want to make sure other parents don’t have to wait either,” said CEO Martinez. “I hope that our CPS families will use Vaccination Awareness Day as an opportunity to take their children to the pediatrician, to a local pharmacy, or to one of many CPS school or community-based health providers to get them protected against COVID-19.”

In addition to reaching out to your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or checking Vaccines.gov, opportunities for anyone age of 5-to-11 to get vaccinated on Friday, November 12 include:

  • CDPH Uptown Immunization Clinic: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.,  Register online
  • CDPH Greater Lawn Immunization Clinic: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Register online
  • Family Vaccine Clinic, Arturo Velasquez Institute: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Register online or by phone at 773-254-1400
  • Little Black Pearl Pop-Up: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Register online or walk-ins welcome at 1060 E. 47th Street
  • CPS, Chicago Vocational Career Academy: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Register online
  • CPS, Clark High School: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Register online
  • CPS, Richards High School: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Register online
  • CPS, Roosevelt High School: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Register online
  • Family Vaccine Clinic, Harmony Community Church: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Register online
  • CPS, Chavez Elementary School: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.,  Register online
  • CPS, Kenwood High School: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Register online
  • CPS, Mitchell Elementary School: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Register online
  • CDPH CareVan Nixon Elementary School: 10 a.m.– 12 p.m., Register online

Select Walgreens will offer pediatric clinics by appointment on Friday:

All 5-to-11-year-olds will be eligible for $100 in Visa gift cards ($50 card for each dose) when receiving their vaccine at CDPH events or clinics. Please note, booster doses, while available at CDPH events and through Protect Chicago At Home, do not qualify for incentives.

At most vaccination locations, parents must accompany the child. Exceptions include CPS
school-located vaccination clinics, school-based health centers, and some healthcare providers with signed consent forms from a parent or guardian. All COVID-19 vaccinations are free, no insurance or government ID is required.

From museums to city colleges, City agencies and partners are supporting efforts Friday to engage students and families when they are not getting their vaccine.

“We are thrilled to offer tours and information sessions for high school students and their families this Friday, on Vaccination Awareness Day, at all seven of our City Colleges,” said Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago. “Students and their families will be able to learn more about our free Early College courses, academic pathways including STEM, certificates, and associate degree programs. Faculty and staff will also be on hand to answer questions about admissions, financial aid, transfer agreements, and more.”

Additional City departments and sites are offering family activities and events as follows:

To endorse this effort, Shedd Aquarium is offering free admission for all CPS students who are interested in spending the remainder of their day learning from and connecting with the aquatic animal world. With limited capacity, advanced, timed ticket reservations are required. The best way to secure free admission for a CPS student is on Shedd’s website. A how-to guide to securing your tickets can be found at www.sheddaquarium.org/community.
The Museum of Science and Industry is also offering free admission. Visit www.msichicago.org/cpsvaxday for more details.
​​Grab-and-Go meals will be offered at sites across Chicago, click here for a list of meal pickup locations
Chicago Park District will have 54 parks offering programming this Friday; 43 require registration and 11 will have drop-in activities. Register here
All Chicago Public Library locations will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday (children must be accompanied by an adult and can’t be left at the library unattended). CPL will have grab-and-go kits with activities that children can do in the library or take home. In addition, CPL is offering the following activities for students: multiple online story times, including an immune-system themed virtual story time at 2:30 p.m.; a curated list of children’s books about germs, doctors, and vaccines to get kids comfortable with the shot: Germs, Viruses and Vaccines for Kids | Chicago Public Library | BiblioCommons
Online tutoring and homework help and more is available at home or in-branch at https://www.chipublib.org/cpl-at-home/.
As the largest provider of free Wifi in the city, CPL is offering assistance to patrons who need help finding a vaccination site for their children.
Each of the seven City Colleges will host College Tours on Friday, November 12; times vary. The tours will allow CPS high school students and other prospective students and families the chance to learn more about becoming part of the City Colleges of Chicago community. To see the tour schedule and register, go to: www.ccc.edu. A schedule follows below:

  • Richard J. Daley College Tour: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (7500 S. Pulaski Road)
  • Harold Washington College Tour: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (30 East Lake Street)
  • Harry S Truman College Tour: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1145 West Wilson Avenue)
  • Olive-Harvey College Tour: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10001 S. Woodlawn)
  • Malcolm X College Tour: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1900 West Jackson Street)
  • Wilbur Wright College Tour: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (4300 North Narragansett)
  • Wilbur Wright’s Humboldt Park Campus Tour: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (1645 North California Ave)
  • Kennedy-King College: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6343 S. Halsted St.)

City Colleges of Chicago will host several upcoming family vaccination clinics operated by Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). These events will offer pediatric COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines, as well as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and booster doses to all Chicagoans. Patients must be 18 or older to receive a J&J vaccine. All clinics will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/city-sites.html.

26 Safe Haven locations will be open to ensure children have a warm, safe space to go to on Friday – click here to find a location near you.

"Chicago Public Library is here to support our families, as our youngest library users get vaccinated," said Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown. "Families looking for fun and learning are encouraged to visit their neighborhood library, pick-up grab-and-go activity kits, access the internet, and get free online homework help tutoring – activities available in every Chicago neighborhood library."

This week and beyond, there are many ways for children to get vaccinated across the city:

Family health care providers – CDPH recommends families first reach out to their pediatrician or family medical provider to see if appointments are available.

CPS sites – CPS’ regional vaccination clinics and mobile school-based events will offer the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5 to 11 starting on Wednesday, November 10th.

Local pharmacies – Across the city, many pharmacy locations already have vaccines and more will receive doses in the coming weeks. Each has their own registration.

  • Walgreens: Register online, call your local Walgreens or 1-800-WALGREENS (1-800-925-4733)
  • CVS: Register online, call your local CVS or 1-800-679-9691
  • Mariano's:  Register online
  • Walmart: Call 833-886-0023, Option 1
  • Chicago Costco Pharmacies:  Register online for an appointment or call a pharmacy directly

Select children’s hospitals will host pediatric vaccine events – check hospital websites for dates and more information.

CDPH will host family vaccination clinics at City Colleges of Chicago. These events will offer pediatric COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines, as well as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and booster doses to all Chicagoans. Patients must be 18 or older to receive a J&J vaccine. All clinics will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required and open now at www.chi.gov/YouthVax.

  • Saturday, November 13 – Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S Pulaski Rd.
  • Sunday, November 14 – Wilbur Wright College, 4300 N Narragansett Ave.
  • Saturday, November 20 – Kennedy-King College, 6301 S Halsted St.
  • Sunday, November 21 – Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S Woodlawn Ave.
  • Saturday, December 4 – Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S Pulaski Rd.
  • Sunday, December 5 – Wilbur Wright College, 4300 N Narragansett Ave.
  • Saturday, December 11 – Kennedy-King College, 6301 S Halsted St.
  • Sunday, December 12 – Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S Woodlawn Ave.
  • Saturday, December 18 – Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave.
  • Sunday, December 19 – Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd.
  • Saturday, January 8 – Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave.
  • Sunday, January 9 – Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd.

Starting November 15, CDPH’s in-home vaccination program, Protect Chicago At Home, will also offer pediatric vaccination for all children ages 5 to 11. Make an at-home appointment at Chicago.gov/AtHome or by calling (312) 746-4835.

Standing CDPH immunization clinics will also offer pediatric COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only. This includes:

  • Uptown WIC located at 845 W. Wilson Ave., 2nd Level (call 312 742-3227 for an appointment)
  • Greater Lawn WIC located at 4150 W. 55th St. (call 312 745-1477 for an appointment)

Starting November 15, all CDPH-sponsored community events will offer pediatric vaccinations. For the calendar of community events, visit Chicago.gov/VaxCalendar.

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