Commissioner Silvestri

Concerns over delta variant prompt change in vaccination strategy--mass vaccination sites close

President Preckwinkle and Cook County Health (CCH) are sounding the alarm to residents who have not yet been vaccinated to please go get vaccinated.

As demand for vaccinations wanes locally and across the country and the spread of the variant grows, utilizing a more targeted approach to improving our vaccination rate is prudent.

The delta variant accounts for 83 per cent of the cases in the U.S. and is taking hold here in Illinois and throughout Cook County. This variant mutated from the original strain and is highly contagious and causes more severe illness. Unvaccinated individuals continue to be most at-risk for serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

In suburban Cook County, 1.3 million residents have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Cook County Health has provided more than 864,000 vaccine doses. More than 70% of those doses were administered at one of the health system’s mass vaccination sites.

Due to decreased demand, the mass vaccination sites in Forest Park, Des Plaines, and Matteson are now closed. Every person age 12 and older who wants to be vaccinated can go to any one of CCH’s hospitals or health centers across Cook County.

The vaccine is free. Neither citizenship status nor insurance are required to get the shot. No one eligible will be turned away. Walk-in hours at all CCH locations will be 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Cook County is evolving its strategy to redeploy resources to support hyperlocal, community-based vaccination initiatives. Specific focus will continue to be placed on the 32 municipalities identified by the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social vulnerability index and the COVID-19 community vulnerability index. These communities, primarily in the west and south suburbs, are receiving additional resources through a variety of tactics to address vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine access.

“I understand there is a lot of mistrust about the vaccine. I want people to know that this vaccine is safe. It does not contain any live virus in it. It cannot alter your DNA. It cannot impact your fertility,” said CCH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Claudia Fegan. “We’ve been taking vaccines for years. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are built on new molecular technology that we have been developing for years, which makes them safer and more effective than any vaccine we’ve used before. I wish the vaccines we use for measles, mumps, rubella, and the flu were as effective as the vaccines we have now for COVID-19. This vaccine is a life-changer.”

CCH and CCDPH have already offered 330 pop-up, mobile, and priority sites across the region to administer more than 55,000 doses to individuals in communities where they live and work. More than 1,800 in-home vaccinations have also been given.

For more information about vaccination sites, click here, or call 833-308-1988.

Another reason to get vaccinated

Your shot to saves lives & win big--do it today!

The State of Illinois is offering vaccinated residents $10 million in prizes, with awards ranging from $100,000 to $1 million.

The vaccine incentive program is awarding $7 million in cash prizes to residents 18 and older and $3 million in Bright Start 529 College Savings scholarship awards to residents ages 12 to 17. Drawings are held on Thursdays and will run through August 26, 2021. The sooner you get vaccinated, the more chances you have to win. The State of Illinois will check its records 7 days prior to each drawing to make sure its system is up-to-date on vaccines administered.

Who is eligible?

You are eligible if you are an Illinois resident age 18 or older for cash prizes or between the ages of 12-17 for scholarship prizes. If you have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Illinois, you are eligible. There are no sign ups or entry forms; you are automatically entered in the drawing if you meet the above criteria.

Look here for additional information.

Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Phase 5 changes at the forest preserves are now in place

There are no COVID-19 capacity limits on the number of participants for forest preserve events for the public, volunteer days, or indoor event permits. Current COVID-19 capacity limits for outdoor permitted events will end on June 18th.

Campgrounds are fully open, seven days a week, with no site set-asides due to COVID-19 capacity limits. All bunkhouses and group campsites are fully open.

Swallow Cliff Stairs return to standard operation, with standard mask requirements, full parking, and no designated uphill/downhill stairways.

Mask requirements indoors are limited to visitors who are not vaccinated. Outdoors, visitors who are not vaccinated are required to wear a mask if they cannot maintain social distance.

All staff will continue to wear a mask when interacting with members of the public.

Nature Center grounds are open seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Drinking fountains are closed, but restrooms are available. Buildings and indoor exhibits offering limited access varies by each location. Check the website link below for details.

Interactive map here . . .

Picnic permits

The permit office at General Headquarters is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Permits continue to be available online.

Purchase picnic permits online here.

Unique event spaces available

Permits are available for our several unique indoor event spaces. Events are available at the Volunteer Resource Center/Edgebrook, Dan Ryan, and Thatcher Woods locations.

For more information on renting indoor event pavilions, look here.

Everything you need to know about Cook County

My door is always open . . .

Cook County is responsible for providing essential services in the areas of public safety, public health, the court system, elections, tax assessment and appeals, recording deeds, and managing forest preserves. As an independent-minded member of the Board, I have worked hard to combine fiscal responsibility with social awareness. I am honored to serve the people of the 9th district, which includes: portions of the far northwest side of Chicago; Park Ridge, River Forest, Elmwood Park, Harwood Heights, Mount Prospect, Norridge, River Grove, Rosemont, and Schiller Park; portions of Arlington Heights, Melrose Park, Morton Grove, Niles, and Prospect Heights; and unincorporated Norwood Park, Maine, and Wheeling Townships.

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