The site has operated seven days a week and was originally slated to be open for eight weeks with the ability to administer 6,000 shots per day at full capacity, officials said. Those doses have been provided directly from the federal government and not diverted from the supply sent to Chicago or Illinois.
Earlier this month, the site shifted from administering the two-dose vaccines for walk-ins to the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The Chicago Department of Public Health says the United Center has administered almost 287,000 vaccine doses since March 9.
The drive-thru vaccinations using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are expected to remain open through next month.
Changes to United Center COVID Vaccinations Start Monday The United Center will host drive thru vaccinations using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which will likely continue through June
Published May 3, 2021 •
Updated on May 3, 2021 at 10:19 am
Major changes to the United Center s COVID-19 vaccination site start Monday.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady announced the changes Tuesday, saying walk-in first-dose Pfizer vaccinations would be coming to an end last week. Don t miss local breaking news and weather! Download our mobile app for iOS or Android and sign up for alerts.
From May 4 through May 10, the vaccination site will strictly offer the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for walk-in appointments, Arwady said. After this week, the center will no longer offer first doses of the two-shot vaccines.
While some have secured appointments, obtaining one has turned into a difficult task for many residents.
Chicagoan Bill Jensen shared his frustrating experience from this past weekend when he got three quarters of the way through the sign-up process. He was suddenly locked out when it came time to select an appointment time. I’m not shocked that it’s hard to get appointments, Jensen said. It’s a limited resource and a ton of demand. Having said that, the program stunk!
Zocdoc, the site on which registration is conducted, was plagued by glitches Sunday as a large number of people sought to obtain appointments.
For a full look at who s eligible under the expanded Phase 1B Plus, click here.
The last-minute change sparked confusion and frustration for some who had been waiting to book appointments at the new site. The ZocDoc website also appeared to have a glitch on Sunday, showing appointments that were available but not allowing users to book those appointments. Some also reported that they were able to book appointments that were later canceled without explanation.
The change in eligibility was made based on additional Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance, Gov. J.B. Pritzker s office said in a statement, to ensure equity in vaccine distribution and that the people and communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic have access to the vaccine.