As vaccine code-sharing persists, Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady warns people ‘do not try to game the system’

Chicago’s public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady on Tuesday again implored people to stop sharing vaccine appointment codes at its city-run sites, a recurring issue that she said has caused logistical headaches for her staff and taken up slots from people who are actually eligible.

When she brought up the subject in an online question-and-answer session, Arwady struck a sterner tone than two weeks ago when she said the Chicago Department of Public Health canceled an unspecified number of vaccine appointments for teachers who inadvertently used a code meant for home health care workers at its mass vaccination sites. Back then, she did not assign blame because she said people were honest in indicating they were not health care workers but urged people to keep the codes to themselves.

Not everyone has heeded that advice. Arwady said as second doses of the vaccine have rolled out from these city-run sites, people have shared their QR codes that are only meant for the follow-up appointments. That led to an influx of people using those slots to sign up for a first dose.

“We’ve been seeing people share that QR code, which is designed for second doses, inappropriately with friends, with family,” Arwady said.

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Arwady added these efforts have been unsuccessful because the city can track who is using those codes and subsequently cancel sign-ups they determine are under codes used incorrectly. However, such responses have piled on extra work for CDPH and jammed up appointments for people seeking to get their second doses on time, she said.

“I can’t emphasize enough: Please do not try to game the system,” Arwady said. “Please do not try to share, if you get a code, if you get an appointment, that’s been directed for you.”

The “vast majority” of people are not participating in improper code-sharing, Arwady said, and there are requirements for people to certify they are eligible for that appointment. But she added that to some degree, the city counts on people to also keep the codes to themselves to avoid the cancellations her department must then issue.

The city runs six mass vaccination sites that are closed to the public, meaning they can only be accessed on an appointment basis. As of Jan. 25, they were completely booked with heath care workers who are part of phase 1a that began in December. The city’s website says as more vaccine becomes available, limited slots for residents 65 or older or front-line essential workers under phase 1b may open.

It was not immediately clear how widespread the issue of code-sharing has been.

“We have cancelled appointments when this happened and have put mitigation practices in place in order to ensure only our currently eligible population is receiving the vaccine. For example, we no longer post codes at (points of distribution), we have placed expiration times on codes and we are frequently updating the codes. CDPH will continue to monitor this situation going forward,” according to an agency statement.

ayin@chicagotribune.com