COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children under 5, and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) to provide access for Chicago families.
“These are vaccines that have been designed for the youngest children,” CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said at a June 28 event at the Blue Door Neighborhood CenterSM in Morgan Park. “They’re safe for the youngest children, and they’re effective for helping prevent against severe illness, preventing against long COVID and helping to stop the spread of COVID.”
Family vaccination clinics at Blue Door Neighborhood Center locations in Morgan Park, Pullman and South Lawndale will offer COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to anyone age 6 months or older. Get more information about dates and locations from CDPH.
“We all are aware of some of the disruptions that children experienced in a classroom setting due to COVID 19 outbreaks,” BCBSIL Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Derek Robinson said at the event. “We certainly can anticipate that as we get more young people vaccinated against COVID-19, we're going to see better stability not only in their health, but also in their educational experience.”
[Related: See more ways BCBSIL is making an impact in our communities]