CHICAGO – The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) are partnering to host a series of COVID-19 vaccination events at CPS schools for youth and their parents.

CDPH will bring mobile vaccination clinics, each in a converted CTA bus called the Vaccination Station, to park at fifteen elementary and high schools over the next three Saturdays. CPS and CTU will help to engage students and their families to come out to be vaccinated, and provide on-site volunteers to assist with registration.

“All children 12 and above are now eligible for vaccination, and we want everyone to get vaccinated so we can enjoy a safe and fun summer,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “Kids and adults who are not vaccinated are still at risk from COVID, which continues to circulate the most in our communities with the lowest vaccination rates. We need to get everyone vaccinated to put COVID behind us.”

The bus will offer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The two-dose Pfizer is the only vaccine available to youth, and anyone age 12 and above is eligible. Parents and guardians accompanying youth – anyone 18 and older—can choose to receive Pfizer or the single-dose J & J vaccine.

“CPS is committed to helping students and families in all parts of Chicago access the COVID-19 vaccine in their own communities, building on our effort to help vaccinate thousands of CPS staff members," said CPS CEO, Dr. Janice K. Jackson. "With partnerships like this to improve equitable access to the vaccine, we are moving closer to a return to normalcy and daily in-person instruction for all students in the fall."

Mobile vaccination events are scheduled at the following elementary and high schools:

• May 15: Chicago Vocational Career Academy, Juarez, Marshall, Nash, and Westinghouse (Bus will return for second doses on June 5)
• May 22: Bouchet, Brunson Ray, Simeon, and Southside(Second doses on June 12)
• May 29: Carver, Englewood STEM, Fenger, and King (Second doses on June 19)

At each event, the bus will park and vaccinations will be offered from 10 am to 12 p.m. 

In the weeks leading up to each event, teachers and principals will share information about the upcoming vaccination opportunities with their students. Students do not need to attend any particular school to be vaccinated. Other community residents are also invited to receive vaccine at the events.

All COVID-19 vaccines are offered at no cost to everyone, no insurance or ID required.  Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

To learn more about Chicago’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, visit www.chicago.gov/covidvax.