How to Schedule a COVID Vaccine Appointment for Kids Under 12 in the Chicago Area

With COVID vaccines for children under 12 set to begin soon in the Chicago area, plenty of places are already offering parents the option to schedule an appointment.

Here's a look at where parents can look for early appointments in the Chicago area:

Walgreens and CVS

Walgreens and CVS will begin administering COVID vaccines to children under 12 years old this weekend, with appointments already being offered as of Wednesday.

Walgreens said it will begin offering coronavirus vaccinations to children ages 5 to 11 starting Saturday.

Because the children's doses are smaller and in different containers, the doses must be shipped to both the state and city. Vials of the lower-dose Pfizer vaccine for kids are headed to the Chicago area any day now, health officials say.

Walgreens said it is expecting shipments to arrive "later this week" but appointments for pediatric vaccinations are already available.

They can be made at Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine, through the Walgreens app or by calling 1-800-Walgreens.

Walgreens said more appointments will be available in the coming weeks as the chain receives additional vaccine.

Meanwhile, CVS said it plans to start offering doses to younger children beginning Sunday.

The chain said its 1,700 locations nationwide, including more than 50 Illinois pharmacies, are already taking appointments as they anticipate vaccine supply to arrive.

CVS noted that parental or legal guardian consent is required, and children must be accompanied by an adult to get their shots.

Appointments can be made online at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app.

DuPage County

The DuPage County Health Department said it expects the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to be available through many locations in the county, but appointments are not yet available.

"DCHD has been working with healthcare providers, schools, and other organizations to ensure a broad network of access for children to be vaccinated against COVID-19," the department said in a release.

Because the community has reached our goal of fully vaccinating at least 80% of residents over the age of 12 who have previously been eligible, the county plans to "shift our priority to getting the 5-11 year old population vaccinated,” officials said.

As such, the DuPage County Fairgrounds will close on Nov. 22 "because we recognize this would not be the best care setting to meet the unique needs of the 5–11 year-old population,” the department stated.

Pediatric vaccinations will begin in the county on Nov. 15 at a number of locations. For those looking to for earlier appointments, the department recommends the following:

1) Check with your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider.

2) Check with a local retail pharmacy.

3) Check with your child’s school to see if they are hosting a clinic.

4) Register with DCHD Vaccine Registration & Scheduling.  Those who register will receive information via email about scheduling an appointment as soon as appointments are available.

5) Visit www.vaccines.gov to find a provider near you.

Chicago

Lurie Children's Hospital is accepting appointments here and will be hosting a vaccination clinic starting at 10 a.m. Friday.

In addition, Chicago's health department released the following list of places offering pediatric vaccinations:

●      Family health care providers – CDPH recommends families first reach out to their pediatrician or family medical provider to see if appointments are available.

●      CPS sites – CPS’ regional vaccination clinics and mobile school-based events will begin offering the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5 to 11 starting on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

• Use this link to view the schedule for the clinics.
• Use this link to view the schedule for mobile events.
• Visit cps.edu/vaccinations for more information and vaccine opportunities.

●      Local pharmacies – Across the city, many pharmacy locations already have vaccines and more will receive doses in the coming weeks. Each has their own registration.

• Walgreens: Register online, call your local Walgreens or 1-800-925-4733.
• CVS: Register online, call your local CVS or 1-800-679-9691.
• Mariano's: Register online.
• Walmart: Call 1-833-886-0023, Option 1.
• Chicago Costco Pharmacies: Register online for an appointment or call a pharmacy directly.

●      Select children’s hospitals will host pediatric vaccine events – check hospital websites for dates and more information.

●      CDPH will host family vaccination clinics at City Colleges of Chicago. These events will offer pediatric COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines, as well as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and booster doses to all Chicagoans. You must be 18 or older to receive a J&J vaccine. All clinics will be open 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Registration is required and will begin on Nov. 5 at www.chi.gov/YouthVax.

• Saturday, Nov. 13 – Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S Pulaski Rd.
• Sunday, Nov. 14 – Wilbur Wright College, 4300 N Narragansett Ave.
• Saturday, Nov. 20 – Kennedy-King College, 6301 S Halsted St.
• Sunday, Nov. 21 – Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S Woodlawn Ave.
• Saturday, Dec. 4 – Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S Pulaski Rd.
• Sunday, Dec. 5 – Wilbur Wright College, 4300 N Narragansett Ave.
• Saturday, Dec. 11 – Kennedy-King College, 6301 S Halsted St.
• Sunday, Dec. 12 – Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S Woodlawn Ave.
• Saturday, Dec. 18 – Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave.
• Sunday, Dec. 19 – Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd.
• Saturday, Jan. 8 – Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave.
• Sunday, Jan. 9 – Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd.

●      Starting Nov. 15, CDPH’s in-home vaccination program, Protect Chicago At Home, will also offer pediatric vaccination for all children age 5 to 11. Make an at-home appointment at Chicago.gov/AtHome or by calling 312-746-4835.

●      Standing CDPH immunization clinics will also offer pediatric COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only. This includes:

• Uptown WIC 845 W. Wilson Ave., 2nd Level (call 312-742-3227 for an appointment).
• Greater Lawn WIC 4150 W. 55th St. (call 312-745-1477 for an appointment).

●      Starting Nov. 15, all CDPH-sponsored community events will offer pediatric vaccinations. For the calendar of community events, visit Chicago.gov/VaxCalendar.

Kane County

The Kane County Health Department announced Wednesday that appointments are now available for pediatric vaccinations at the Kane Vax Hub in Batavia. Vaccinations begin on Nov. 10 at KaneVax.org.

The department said more appointments will be added weekly.