The United Center will be giving shots to 6,000 people per day.
You’ll likely remember back in November the United Center was used as an “Election Day Super Site” for the 2020 general election. As the chief logistical hub for Chicago’s efforts against Covid 19, the famed home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks was instead filled with polling stations and hordes of voters for the first time in its 26 year history.
The beloved “House That Jordan Built” will now take on another role in the City of Chicago’s efforts against Covid 19 starting next week. From Wednesday, March 10, the United Center will administer 6,000 vaccination doses per day and provide an enormous boost to Chicago’s distribution plans.
The @UnitedCenter becoming a mass vaccination site is a game changer for Chicago. The first round of appointments will be exclusively for residents 65 and older. Spread the word and let’s get them vaccinated. #ProtectChicago https://t.co/zLPVjVC41e pic.twitter.com/4t4wPbCklL
— Archived: Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@mayorlightfoot) February 27, 2021
Governor J.B. Pritzker joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday, February 26, to announce the center’s new purpose. Mayor Lori Lightfoot called it a “game-changer” and said that “the first appointments available exclusively for seniors 65 and older.”
The vaccination site will be situated in the parking lots surrounding the United Center and the site will be open seven days a week for 12 hours per day with the aim of administering up to 6,000 shots per day if supply allows. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be providing the personnel for the site as well as financial assistance, equipment, and the necessary supplies.
Exciting announcement: In collaboration with our federal partners, we will be launching a new mass vaccination site at the @UnitedCenter on March 10th, which will be open to anyone in our state — beginning with seniors and shortly expanding to the full Phase 1B+ population. pic.twitter.com/oFu1TISmby
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) February 26, 2021
The advance sign-up period for Illinois residents aged 65 and older has begun and 28,000 seniors have already signed up but according to Mayor Lori Lightfoot “tens of thousands of available appointments” remain. Illinois seniors have the first chance to sign up for their COVID-19 vaccinations before the site expands to”the full phase 1B+ population.”
Over 28,000 seniors have signed up today to get their COVID-19 vaccination at the @UnitedCenter and we still have tens of thousands of available appointments! Spread the word to the seniors you know who haven't received their vaccination yet ➡️ https://t.co/TOAn0Ite8g pic.twitter.com/kO4nke1d8q
— Archived: Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@mayorlightfoot) March 5, 2021
Pritzker revealed that the state and city are looking at creating other mass vaccination sites. Wrigley Field and McCormick Place have previously been discussed alongside the United Center as potential mass vaccination sites in Chicago, so there’s a good chance some iconic mass vaccination sites could soon follow suit.
See more: Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Statewide Ban On Games Like Grand Theft Auto Amid Spike In Carjackings
[Featured image from Shutterstock]