Confusion ensues over vaccination website
Cook County department changed mind for survey instructions
A Cook County Department of Public Health website that collected information for potential COVID vaccine distribution raised confusion Monday as the department twice changed its guidance about who was eligible to use the site.
A survey on the website initially appeared to be open to all Cook County residents, and many filled it out over the weekend and on Monday, thinking it might help them understand when it would be their turn to receive vaccines.
But county health department spokesman Don Bolger told the Tribune early Monday afternoon that the survey was intended only for some health care workers.
A few hours later, the department appeared to reverse course, updating the survey’s instructions to say that it was open to suburban Cook County health care workers, essential workers and residents.
The back-and-forth came amid a slower-than-expected national rollout of the vaccine that has left many people anxious for information.
“I think it’s horrible,” said Jennifer Stevens, 51 of Hoffman Estates, who filled out the form Sunday night after seeing a story about it on the news. She thought that by filling out the form, she would receive updates about potential availability and locations for vaccination, but now she’s not so sure. “It shows just complete disorganization.”
She said she and her husband, who both have health issues, have remained at home since February, getting their groceries delivered and avoiding takeout.
“I feel like this is never going to end because there is no plan and nobody is doing anything to put any thought into planning,” she said. “I had a little bit of hope, and I feel like every day the hope is being taken away because things like this are happening.”
Health care workers and long-term care facility residents are the first groups to receive vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the next groups include people ages 75 and older and essential workers such as teachers, police officers and firefighters. After that, the CDC has recommended people ages 65 to 74 and those with certain underlying health conditions get vaccinated.
Bolger said Monday afternoon he didn’t have answers as to what caused the mix-up, other than to say that it had been posted online as part of a “soft launch” before people began sharing it over the weekend.
He said the department could not provide information about how many people had filled out the form. Some people reported filling it out in recent days after seeing the link on Facebook or receiving it from friends and family.
The initial form said people who filled it out could “receive regular updates about when and where they can receive the COVID-19 vaccination.” Instructions said: “Please complete this survey if you are an individual, and not affiliated with a health care organization of any type.”
The form asked people for names, addresses, ages, ethnicity, contact information and to identify if they were essential workers such as those in education, corrections or grocery stores. It also asked people if they had any one of nearly a dozen high-risk medical conditions.
But Bolger said early Monday afternoon that the form was intended only for health care workers who were not affiliated with health systems.
The instructions for the survey were changed later Monday to clarify that it was for “individual health care and essential workers who live or work in suburban Cook County, as well as suburban Cook County residents to understand their interest in receiving the vaccine.”
“By completing the survey, individuals will be added to a list to receive updates on COVID-19 vaccine availability including the timing and scheduling,” the updated instructions said.
The instructions say the form is only for people who live or work in suburban Cook County, and essential workers and health care workers in Chicago should refer to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s website for guidance.
Neighboring Lake County unveiled a registration system for all its residents and workers weeks ago, and as of last week had registered about 150,000 people.
Barb Tchaou, 71 of Glenview, filled out the Cook County form after hearing about it on Facebook. She thought it was a registry.
Once conflicting information started emerging, she called her doctor’s office for clarity. She said she and her friends are “champing at the bit trying to figure out when our turn is coming up.”
Tchaou’s husband had heart and kidney transplants in 2018, so she’s hoping they can get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“I don’t fault people for trying to get information out in a timely manner, however, in trying to do that if they’re not specific enough, they will confuse a lot of people like me, and like probably a lot of other people,” Tchaou said.