Week of February 8, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ - Skokie Health and Human Services Department
This week, the Village of Skokie continues vaccinating healthcare workers, certain essential workers and Skokie residents age 65 and older in Phase 1B. Additional vaccination clinics will be made available as the supply of vaccine allows. The availability of vaccine will continue to be the single most important factor in how soon residents can be vaccinated.
Skokie residents age 18 and over who live in the 600076, 60077 and 60203 zip code areas are encouraged to pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccination from the Village of Skokie. By completing this form, you are indicating that you are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and will be contacted by the Village as soon as it is available to you. Please pre-register each member of your household age 18 and over. Vaccinations are being given by appointment only, and 28,000 Skokie residents are currently pre-registered. Due to the high demand for vaccinations and the inadequate supply of vaccine, it could take weeks or months until you receive an invitation to make a vaccination appointment.
Village of Skokie COVID-19 Vaccination Process
1. Pre-register with the Village of Skokie. Every household member age 18 and over should pre-register. Please pre-register each member of your household age 18 and over. You will not receive a confirmation email.
Click here to access the COVID-19 pre-registration portal.
2. Await notification from the Village. Please be patient. With more than 28,000 individuals pre-registered in the Village system, it may take many weeks or months before you are notified. Based on the information you provide, the Village will notify you via the email address provided when the vaccine is available to you based on your priority group, the order in which you pre-registered (first-in, first-served), and, most importantly, the amount of available vaccine. . The email will come from info@skokie.org; to date, the invitation emails are being issued late in the week. The Village is currently vaccinating individuals in Phase 1A and Phase 1B, including seniors age 65 and older, healthcare workers and some essential workers.
3. Register for your first vaccine dose. The notification email will include a link to register for an appointment to receive your first dose of the vaccine. Upon completing the registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the details of your appointment and a ticket to present for admission.
4. Receive your first vaccine dose. Please do not arrive more than five minutes before your appointment. Please bring a current, state-issued photo ID showing proof of Skokie residency. Be sure to wear short sleeves and a mask. If you for a Skokie healthcare provider, please bring a work ID or documentation of employment.
5. Await an email notification from the Village a few days before it’s time for your second dose and final dose. You should expect to receive this email several days in advance of when the second vaccine dose is available to you with a link to make an appointment. The Village is currently administering Moderna vaccine, with the doses set 28 days (or more) apart.
6. Register for your second vaccine dose. The email you receive from info@skokie.org will include a link to register for an appointment to receive your second dose of the vaccine. Upon completing registration, you will receive a confirmation email confirming the details of your appointment with a ticket to present for admission.
7. Receive your second vaccine dose. Please do not arrive more than five minutes before your appointment. Please bring a current, state-issued photo ID showing proof of Skokie residency. Be sure to wear short sleeves and a mask. If you for a Skokie healthcare provider, please bring a work ID or documentation of employment.
Pre-Registration and Vaccine Appointment Communication Information
Q: How is the Village allocating COVID-19 vaccinations?
A. The Village is following the guidelines of the Illinois Department of Public Health and will be providing free vaccinations in a multi-phased approach. For more information on these phases, click here. The Village will move to new phases as sufficient doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.
Q: When I pre-register for a Skokie vaccine, will I receive an email confirmation?
A: No, you will not receive an email confirmation. When you complete the survey, a box should pop-up indicating that you have successfully completed the survey.
Q: I pre-registered with the Village and have not received an email invitation to make an appointment. When will I receive one?
A. If you or your loved one have pre-registered with the Village in the 1B or later phases and have not received an email, know you are still in the system and will receive a future email inviting you to make an appointment for a vaccination. With more than 28,000 individuals currently pre-registered with the Village, you might not be notified for weeks or months. Expect an email from info@skokie.org with the appointment link.
There are three factors that determine when pre-registered Skokie residents receive the invitation to make a vaccination appointment:
- Their priority group in the set phases established by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Skokie is currently vaccinating individuals in Phase 1A and 1B.
- Click here for more information about Phase 1A.
- Click here for more information about Phase 1B.
- The order in which they pre-registered with the Village of Skokie (first-in, first-served).
- The amount of available vaccine. To date, Skokie is receiving hundreds of doses each week, not thousands of doses as requested.
If a resident forgets or misses their opportunity to register for the actual vaccine appointment, the Village will continue to send them notifications for future available vaccine clinics.
The availability of vaccine will continue to be the single most important factor in how soon residents can be vaccinated.
Q: I received an email from the Village inviting me to register for a COVID-19 vaccine, but I was not able to reply in time to secure an appointment. Do I lose my place in line?
A. If you are unable to make an appointment when you receive the initial email, please watch for similar emails in the following weeks. Vaccination clinic appointments are being sent based on the order in which individuals pre-registered their priority group and when vaccine supplies are received - which is unpredictable. Email invitations will continue to include residents who missed earlier email invitations.
Q. On what day of the week is the Village sending vaccination appointment invitation emails?
A. At present, vaccination appointment emails are being issued from info@skokie.org later in the week.
Q: Are vaccine appointments being prioritized based on age or other health issues?
A: No, vaccine priorities are not being given outside of the set phases as provided by the State of Illinois. To view the phases please visit https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq and/or https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccination-plan.
Phase 1B - includes persons aged 65 and older and certain essential workers.
Phase 1C - includes persons 16-64 years old with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19.
There are three factors that determine when pre-registered Skokie residents receive the invitation to make a vaccination appointment:
- Their priority group in the set phases established by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Skokie is currently vaccinating individuals in Phase 1A and 1B.
- Click here for more information about Phase 1A.
- Click here for more information about Phase 1B.
- The order in which they pre-registered with the Village of Skokie (first-in, first-served).
- The amount of available vaccine. To date, Skokie is receiving hundreds of doses each week, not thousands of doses as requested.
Q: I do not have a computer or email address. How will I be notified when vaccination appointments become available?
A: Due to the extreme levels of calls and appointments being made, the Village is encouraging residents to make appointments electronically. If you do not have a computer or an email address, we ask that you find a family member, friend or neighbor to help you pre-register online and to help make an appointment when they are available. If you do not have anyone to help you, please call the Skokie COVID-19 Hotline at 847-779-7726 to pre-register with your name, address and phone number and you will be notified when an appointment is available.
Q. How is Skokie getting the word out about COVID-19 vaccinations to residents without access to computers?
A. An informational postcard was mailed to all Skokie homes in the 60076, 60077 and 60203 zip codes in late January/early February with information on pre-registration for the benefit of residents without internet access. See the Village of Skokie COVID-19 postcard.
Q: I heard that if I just show up at Skokie’s clinic at the end of the day, I might be able to get a vaccination because of no-shows. Is this true?
A: NO! Vaccinations will be administered by appointment only, and individuals who come to Skokie’s clinic without an appointment will be turned away without receiving a vaccine.
Q: When did Skokie begin vaccinating residents and others in Phase 1B identified by the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health?
A: In late January, the Village began providing vaccinations to Skokie residents age 65 and older, as well as Skokie residents who are healthcare workers who are in Phase 1B this week and clinics will continue depending on vaccine supply availability.
Q: Is it true that someone recently shared a link to the Village of Skokie vaccination clinic reservation system and that a lot of people got appointments without waiting their turn?
A: Unfortunately, a few individuals who were trusted with the vaccination appointment link, and were told not to share it with anyone, shared it anyway and the link ended up on social media. The hundreds of appointments made with the unauthorized link were canceled. While the Village knows that everyone is anxious about the vaccine and that many individuals who made appointments with the shared link did not realize they were 'jumping the line', all of the appointments made with the shared link were canceled. This was done in fairness to the tens of thousands of other Skokie residents who have pre-registered for a COVID-19 vaccine and are patiently, and likely anxiously, waiting their turn.
Q: I have registered to receive a vaccine through my health provider or other health departments, should I cancel my pre-registration with Skokie?
A: No, you do not need to cancel your pre-registration with the Village if you sign-up to receive the vaccine elsewhere. When the Village sends out the appointment email for your phase, you can disregard if you have already received the vaccine.
Q. What’s the best way for me to stay informed of the Village’s overall COVID-19 vaccination plans?
A. The best place to get up-to-date information is the Village’s website, www.skokie.org. Important information is posted in the “Featured Announcements’ section of the home page, and also on the COVID-19 webpage. Please also subscribe to SkokieNews, the Village’s electronic newsletter that is issued every Tuesday afternoon and more frequently when there is important information for the community.
Second Dose Information
Q. I am a Skokie resident and already received my first dose of vaccine from another medical provider. Can I get my second dose from the Village of Skokie?
A. Residents are advised to try to secure their second dose from the same medical provider that administered their first dose. If this is not possible, please email the Skokie COVID-19 email hotline.
Q. How will those that received the first vaccine be notified of their second vaccine?
A. Notices will be sent via email, along with a link to register for their second dose. This email will go out anywhere from one week or less prior to when their second dose is due.
Q. How can I be sure that I will be able to get an appointment for my second dose of vaccine from the Village?
A. Individuals who received their first dose of vaccine from the Village of Skokie will receive an email when it is time for them to make an appointment for their second dose. These emails will include a specific code that will be unique to each individual to ensure that they are able to make their appointment within the correct timeframe.
Data on the Amount of Vaccine Received
Q. How many doses of vaccine has Skokie administered so far?
A. As of Friday, February 5, 2021, the Village had administered 5,568 doses, and an additional 3,750 doses were sent directly to Skokie Hospital in December 2020. The Village is scheduling vaccination clinics to use up all vaccines received in a given week. To date, the Village’s supply of vaccine continues to be inadequate, with the Village receiving hundreds of doses each week, not thousands as requested. Inadequate supply of vaccines remains the single largest barrier to vaccinating Skokie residents at a faster pace.
Changing or Transferring a Vaccination Appointment
Q. Can I give my scheduled appointment to one of my colleagues or more vulnerable family members?
A. No. Appointments slots will only be held for the individuals who register and are able to produce proof of Skokie residency or employment at a Skokie healthcare provider.
Q. I made an appointment for a vaccine but need to change it or I want to cancel. How can I do this?
A. Appointments can be canceled by calling Health and Human Services at 847/933-8252. Due to the demand for vaccines, changing an appointment is not an option at this time.
Required Identification for Skokie Residents and Healthcare Workers at Skokie Healthcare Providers
Q. What kind of ID is required?
A. A state-issued photo ID with a Skokie address is required. Absent this, a state-issued photo ID along with a current utility bill or lease document with a Skokie address and that person’s name will suffice. Skokie residents under age 65 that are essential workers qualifying for a vaccination in group 1B also should be prepared with proof of employment. Healthcare workers who are not Skokie residents but work for a Skokie healthcare provider must also bring proof of employment.
Other Questions About Qualifying for a COVID-19 Vaccine from the Village of Skokie
Q. I don't live in Skokie but am an essential worker at a Skokie business, and I think that I fall into category 1B or 1C. Do I qualify for a vaccine through the Skokie Health and Human Services Department?
A. No. Except for a few exceptions, only Skokie residents with proof of residency can get vaccinated at a Skokie Health and Human Services vaccination clinic. Exceptions include healthcare employees that work at a Skokie healthcare provider or educators that work at Skokie schools. All other non-Skokie resident essential workers that work at Skokie businesses should contact the health department for the community in which they live http://www.idph.state.il.us/LHDMap/HealthRegions.aspx, or ask their employer or healthcare professional about other options for receiving the vaccine.
Q. What about caregivers who are coming into the homes of Skokie residents?
A. If they live outside Skokie, they are not eligible. If they work for a healthcare provider located in Skokie, then they do qualify.
Q. I heard on the news that teachers at Skokie schools received the vaccine first. Why is that?
A. After extensive planning, the Health and Human Services Department opted to begin smaller, controlled vaccination clinics during late January 2021 where pre-identified control groups including healthcare workers at Skokie healthcare providers and educators at Skokie schools would be vaccinated first. These two groups fall within the CDC and IDPH designated initial priority groups for vaccine distribution. These initial controlled clinics allowed the Health and Human Services Department to ensure future vaccine clinics are managed efficiently, prior to opening larger clinics to Skokie residents. The Village’s vaccine allotment from the State of Illinois will increase, as vaccine is more readily available and larger and more frequent Village-run vaccine clinics will continue for Skokie residents.
Q. I heard that the Village gave a lot of its vaccine to Skokie Hospital. Is that true?
A. The Village’s first shipment of vaccine in mid-December 2020 was shipped directly to Northshore University Healthcare, where it was used to vaccinate Phase 1A healthcare workers. This was arranged through the Illinois Department of Public Health. Soon thereafter, Skokie Health and Human Services started receiving vaccine that has been administered through the Health and Human Services Department at the Village’s clinic.
Transportation Options to Skokie’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
Q. I don’t drive or am homebound. Will the Village come to my home to give me the vaccine?
A. The Village will not be providing in-home appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. You will need to make arrangements with a ride-share service, taxi, neighbor or friend to bring you to a clinic, or contact your physician for other options. Below you will find links for information about RTA para-transit service (if you are income eligible) and a few private, fee-based special transit services.
https://www.rtachicago.org/rider-resources/accessible-transit/paratransit-certification
https://www.specialneedschicago.org/home
https://britelift.com/services/