Zocdoc Glitches Plague Registration for United Center COVID Vaccine Appointments
Glitches plagued medical appointment booking website Zocdoc on Sunday as registration for COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the United Center opened to more Chicago residents.
Registration, previously open just to Illinois residents over the age of 65, opened to all Chicago residents eligible under Phase 1B Plus at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
When it opened, the website showed appointments that were available but in some cases did not allow users to book those appointments. Some also reported that they were able to book appointments that were later canceled without explanation. On Sunday afternoon, some users experienced difficulty booking a vaccination at the United Center, a spokesman for the company said in a statement. Zocdoc identified and resolved the root issue in less than one hour, and Chicago residents were successfully able to book vaccinations, reaching peak booking rates of more than 750 booking
Can You Get a COVID Vaccine at the United Center If You re Not From Chicago?
Can you receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the United Center s mass vaccination site if you re not from the Chicago area? According to the White House, no.
The United Center location will serve up to 2.9 million people who live within a 30-minute drive time, the White House said, noting that 22,000 people live within a one-mile walking distance of the arena. The United Center is one of the best locations for vaccinating large numbers of people in America: it’s easy to get to, is in the midst of a medically underserved community, can handle large crowds and is well known to everyone in Illinois,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement last week.
It’s been nearly a year since the coronavirus pandemic forced the state of Illinois to “stay at home,” emptying streets, clearing office buildings and.
Smokers Now Eligible for COVID Vaccine in Illinois Under Phase 1B Plus
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, smoking is considered an eligible condition under the phase alongside other conditions like cancer, diabetes, obesity, pregnancy and more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that being a current or former cigarette smoker increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Illinois entered its Phase 1B Plus on Feb. 25, increasing eligibility to include people with certain underlying conditions and comorbidities. The move meant an additional 3.4 million people across Illinois became eligible for the vaccine.
Smoking was not on the list of eligible conditions when the phase was first announced, but was added as the state entered the phase last week.