COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Schedule your booster shot today!
As of September 2022, there’s a new COVID-19 booster shot available in Chicago, and it offers much stronger protection against the most common variants of COVID-19.
The bivalent booster is…
Completely FREE
Available to everyone 12 and older who has already gotten their first two vaccine shots
Made to protect from the Omicron variant!
Everyone is encouraged to get their booster shot as soon as possible!
Not sure where to get a booster shot? Check here:
Doctors’ offices, healthcare clinics, and pharmacies
Chicago’s vaccine finder website or vaccines.gov
Insurance is not required to receive a vaccine. No one can be denied a vaccine due to lack of insurance or inability to produce insurance. COVID-19 vaccinations are free to all Chicagoans, even if you are without insurance or undocumented. Also, there is no out-of-pocket cost for the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of your insurance status.
For a How-To Guide to accessing your vaccination options, click here.
To see more questions and answers click here.
Book Vaccine Appointments Today on Zocdoc!
Vaccine FAQ’s
Q. Is a COVID-19 vaccine safe?
A. The U.S. vaccine safety system is a deliberate and multi-phase process to ensure all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety is a top priority. Vaccine candidates conduct clinical trials with many thousands of study participants to generate scientific data and other information for the FDA to determine their safety and effectiveness.
If the FDA determines a vaccine meets its safety and effectiveness standards, it can make these vaccines available for use in the U.S. by approval or Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). After the FDA makes its determination, ACIP will review the available data in order to make vaccine recommendations to the CDC. ACIP will then recommend vaccine use. After a vaccine is authorized or approved for use, vaccine safety monitoring systems will watch for adverse events (possible side effects). CDC is working to expand safety surveillance through new systems and additional information sources, as well as enhancing existing safety monitoring systems.
Q. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant?
A. If you are pregnant, you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. You may want to have a conversation with your healthcare provider to help you decide whether to receive a vaccine that has been authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization. While a conversation with your healthcare provider may be helpful, it is not required prior to vaccination.
Q. If I get the vaccine, can I quit wearing a mask?
A. The City of Chicago no longer requires masks for in most settings. As a reminder, fully vaccinated means two weeks after your second vaccine dose if you got Pfizer or Moderna, or two weeks after your single dose if you got Johnson and Johnson.
There are limited circumstances and settings where all individuals, must continue to wear a mask in accordance with CDC guidance:
in congregate facilities such as correctional centers and homeless shelters,
in health care settings, and where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance