COVID-19 Vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed in Lake County in phases.
Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to COVID-19 or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
Getting vaccinated and following the CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
UpdateHealth Department Pauses Use of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 VaccineThe Lake County Health Department is pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This was done out of an abundance of caution due to six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, out of over 6.8 million doses given. There are no known cases in our county. These events appear to be extremely rare, and COVID-19 vaccine safety continues to be a top priority. In the meantime, Lake County providers have been notified to use Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines that are available.Current Vaccination PhasesPhase 1a: Healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residentsThe Lake County Health Department and its partners have offered appointments to all healthcare personnel and others eligible in Phase 1a who are registered in AllVax. If you are included in this category, please make sure you are registered so we can notify you when you can schedule your appointment. Phase 1b: Adults ages 65 and older and frontline essential workersPhase 1b began on January 25, 2021 in Lake County. As of March 23, appointments have been offered to all Lake County seniors registered in AllVax. As of March 30, all frontline essential workers registered in AllVax who live or work in Lake County can schedule their appointments through the system. If this applies to you, please check your email (including your spam folder) or login to AllVax to schedule your appointment. Phase 1b Plus: People age 16-64 with high-risk health conditions and disabilities, other essential workersEligibility in Phase 1b Plus includes those age 16-64 with diabetes, obesity, pulmonary diseases, heart conditions, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, cancer, immunocompromised from a solid organ transplant, as well as smokers, those who are pregnant, and persons with a disability. Additional essential workers in this phase include government employees, higher education staff, news media, food and beverage service workers, religious leaders, and those in construction trades and working in businesses supporting building/infrastructure repair. Pharmacies in Lake County began vaccinating Phase 1b Plus on February 25, 2021, while the Lake County Health Department and partners continued vaccinating Phase 1b. Several partners opened to Phase 1b Plus the week of March 21, 2021, and the Health Department began opening appointments to this phase on March 30, 2021. Phase 2: All people ages 16 and olderAs of April 12, 2021, all Illinois residents ages 16 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Please note that eligibility does not mean there will be appointment availability right away. Vaccinating everyone will take time and we appreciate your continued patience. Visit our Find a Vaccine page to learn about the four different ways to register for a COVID-19 vaccine. Click here for a detailed list of people in each phase. For more information, visit How CDC is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations. |
Lake County AllVax PortalRegister to get notified when it's time to make an appointment for your COVID-19 vaccine. |
Local Vaccination SitesSeveral local federal and state-run sites and Lake County community sites are vaccinating eligible residents. |
Illinois Vaccine LocatorFind vaccination locations on a map. Get appointment information by following the listed links. New sites and pharmacies are being added daily. This map is managed by the State of Illinois. |
Your Healthcare ProviderProviders are reaching out directly to schedule appointments with their existing patients, prioritizing those ages 65 and older. Visit your health system's website for more information. |
The Lake County AllVax Portal is open! Please register so we can notify you when it is time to make your appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. You will only receive an email to schedule when you are eligible and the Health Department has vaccine and appointments available to you.
To access the portal, click the button below or visit AllVax.lakecohealth.org.
You will also have the option to allow the AllVax system to share your name, date of birth, email address, phone number, and zip code with our COVID-19 vaccination partners. This will give you access to more locations providing vaccines in Lake County as supply increases.
Need help? Email us at AllVax@lakecountyil.gov for assistance or visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. If you have having difficulty registering online, please call (847) 377-8130. Please note, we are currently experiencing very high call volume. We are working to help as many people as we can to get registered. If you send us an email or leave a voicemail, we will return your call. Thank you for your patience!
Be sure to watch our short videos to learn how to register yourself and others.
Local Vaccination Sites
Because of limited vaccine supply, all sites are by appointment only, and no walk-ins will be accepted. See below for details on eligibility and how to make an appointment.
The United Center vaccination site is no longer vaccinating residents outside of Chicago and suburban Cook County.The Federal Emergency Management Agency, State of Illinois, Cook County and the City of Chicago announced a renewed focus at the United Center vaccination site. Currently, only Chicagoans and limited Cook County residents who are seniors or who qualify in Phase 1b+ can make appointments at the United Center. The site will honor all appointments that have already been scheduled. |
Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) |
Oak Street Health Clinic |
YWCA Lake County |
Phase 1a Eligibility*
| Eligible Settings | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Hospital Settings | |
| Hospital |
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| Non-Hospital Healthcare Settings | |
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| Long-Term Care Facilities | |
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| Other Congregate Care Settings | |
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| Other - Home Health | |
| Those providing "Home Health" or serving as a "Home Aide/Caregiver" for a relative with a disability as defined by the Illinois Department of Human Services on January 21, 2021. | |
Phase 1b Eligibility*
| Eligible Individuals | Examples |
|---|---|
| People age 65 and older | |
| Frontline Essential Workers, including: | |
| First Responders |
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| Education (Congregate Child Care, Pre-K through 12th Grade) |
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| Food and Agriculture |
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| Manufacturing |
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| Corrections Workers and Inmates |
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| Postal Service Workers | |
| Public Transit Workers |
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| Grocery Store Workers |
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| Shelters/Adult Day Care |
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*Last updated Feburary 10, 2021. Eligibility criteria is subject to change.
Phase 1b Plus Eligibility*
| Eligible Categories | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Persons aged 16 to 64 years with high-risk medical conditions: | |
| People ages 16 to 64 years with medical conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 |
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| People with disabilities | The CDC defines people with disabilities who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 as:
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| As of March 22, 2021, the following priority groups are eligible: | |
| Government Employees |
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| Higher Education Staff |
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| News Media |
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| As of March 29, 2021, the following priority groups are eligible: | |
| Food and Beverage Service Workers |
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| Religious Leaders | |
| Construction Trades and Businesses Supporting Building and Infrastructure Repair | |
*Last updated March 20, 2021. Eligibility criteria subject to change.
COVID-19 Vaccine Myths vs. Facts
Myths about the COVID-19 vaccine spread quickly on places like social media without being true. Misinformation can create doubt and fear which can have deadly consequences during the pandemic. Make sure to check the source of what you’re sharing before you post.
Avoid COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
Protect yourself. Do not give your personal information to unknown sources. The Lake County Health Department and legitimate vaccine providers will NEVER:
- Ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number.
- Ask you to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine.
- Ask you to pay to put your name on a waiting list or to get early access.
- Offer to sell or ship doses of vaccines for payment.
The Lake County Health Department is not able to verify if you have been scammed. If you believe you have been the victim of COVID-19 scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For more information, visit the FTC website.
Vaccine Information
View more information on vaccine distribution and registration using the links below.
- How the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is Making Vaccine Recommendations
- 8 Things to Know about the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program - CDC (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean)
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination - CDC (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean)
- The Illinois Department for Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
- COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions - IDPH (Spanish, Polish, French, Chinese)
- AllVax COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Tutorials
- Frequently Asked Questions on the AllVax Portal (Spanish)
Vaccination Documents
If you are receiving your COVID-19 vaccine through the Lake County Health Department, you will need to review this information prior to your appointment.