Suburban Cook had often matched its eligibility rollout to the city of Chicago. Both were limiting appointments to select vaccine groups to respond to what they said was low supply. Cook now tracks instead with the state and a majority of its counties.

As of April 5, the states Department of Public Health reported that 84 of Illinois 102 counties had expanded vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and up. The state authorized all local health departments that were seeing early signs of unfilled appointments to start vaccinating everyone 16 and up at their discretion in order to use their vaccine as quickly as possible and mitigate a rise in new COVID-19 cases.

Those interested in booking an appointment in the suburbs can visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov when more first-dose appointments open up, or call 1-833-308-1988, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Chicago is on track to expand vaccine eligibility to all adults 16 and up May 1. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this week that local officials are actively engaged with the state about the need for more vaccine in the highly populated Northeast region. She said she hopes those conversations will result in more vaccine coming to Chicago and suburban Cook and the surrounding area.