Highland Park officials announced that a community COVID-19 vaccination clinic is opening next week for Highland Park residents along with Highwood and Deerfield senior citizens.
The City of Highland Park said the clinic will be a one-day event on April 8 at the Highland Park Country Club, located at 1201 Park Avenue West in Highland Park.
The clinic was made possible through a partnership with Jewel-Osco. The city anticipates serving 600 high-risk residents of Highland Park and neighboring communities.
Appointment scheduling will begin on Monday at 9 a.m. for Highland Park seniors ages 65 and older.
Appointments for Highland Park residents currently eligible under State of Illinois guidelines, including those in Phase 1A, Phase 1B, and Phase 1B plus, can begin scheduling appointments on Monday at 11 a.m.
Appointments for Highwood and Deerfield senior residents ages 65 and older can begin scheduling appointments on April 5 at noon.
Those interested in booking appointments can call 847-861-7559 in accordance with the above dates and times, officials said.
The site will be administering Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccines, meaning only one appointment is needed. The vaccine is free of charge.
Appointments will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and registration will be handled by phone only.
City officials said that the city will maintain a waitlist should there be surplus doses once appointments are fully booked. The city will first reserve appointments for residents of affordable congregate senior housing buildings.
“Following months of requesting local vaccine access from health officials at all levels of government, we appreciate that Jewel-Osco is partnering with the City to make this lifesaving vaccine available to our most vulnerable residents in a convenient location,” said Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.
“While this event includes vaccinations for those eligible in groups 1A, 1B and 1B+ as defined by the State of Illinois, we will continue our efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccine available and accessible to all Highland Park neighbors as quickly as possible,” Rotering said.
“Since the start of the pandemic City officials have been proactively working to protect the health and safety of residents. We have followed science as we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and have taken every necessary step to work collaboratively with health officials, private business, and the public,” said City Manager Ghida Neukirch.
“This vaccination event is another step forward as we look to the end of the pandemic. We are grateful for this public-private partnership with Jewel-Osco and the support of the community,” Neukirch said.