Pfizer Booster Shots, Secure Choice Expansion, Plumbing Code Changes

Pfizer Booster Shots for Restaurant Workers

The National Restaurant Association has received a number of questions regarding the Pfizer booster and whether restaurant employees qualify to receive it.

The Association has contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and we have been informed that many restaurant workers would fit the criteria based on the below information and their original guidance.

The CDC recently published new information on Workers Who May Get Pfizer-BioNTech Booster Shots. While restaurant workers are not specifically listed as an occupation of increased exposure, they do list food and agricultural workers and in our conversations with CDC, they have expressed that restaurant workers would fit the criteria.  

Additionally, a recent CDC presentation explained that higher-risk workers included people who interacted within 6 feet of other people. CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said people would self-identify as qualifying for a booster under the new guidelines.

Our message is clear. Restaurant workers are at high risk because their occupations involve:

• Working in indoor spaces outside their homes,
• Close proximity (<6 feet) to other people, and
• Unavoidable frequent interactions with potentially unvaccinated people.

Therefore, we encourage all restaurant employees whose positions meet these criteria and currently qualify for these booster doses (are at least six months after completion of a Pfizer-BioNTech initial series) to seek a booster vaccine.

Of course, we always recommend consulting with your doctor as well to ensure your individual medical situation and risk level are considered.

Changes to ILCC Online Renewal Process for Licensees

As a reminder to liquor licensees, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission has recently updated their system for online license renewals through the MyTaxIllinois portal.

Click here for an overview of how to renew licenses through the MyTaxIllinois portal.

Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Expanded to Include Employers with More Than Five Employees

Illumination Halloween Fundraiser for Genetic Diseases Seeking Restaurant Partners

The Clayco Foundation's Illumination Halloween fundraising event in support of finding a cure for rare genetic diseases, starting with Retinal Vasculopathy with Cerebral Leukodystrophy (RVCL), is coming up Saturday, October 23 at Veriport Chicago.

The event is seeking restaurants to provide 300-500 bites for the 7:00 p.m. dinner portion of the evening for 300 of Chicago’s real estate, construction and investment community members who are major sponsors to Illumination’s cause. Organizers will provide a stipend for participating restaurants, two dinner tickets, and 8 VIP tickets to the Halloween Party from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Click here for a one pager with more information about the event. Contact Melissa Mazrim for more information.

Chicago City Council Passes Plumbing Code Changes

On Wednesday, the Chicago City Council voted to pass a series of changes to Chicago’s plumbing code intended to ease the financial burdens on homeowners and businesses. Click here to read the announcement.

Changes that impact restaurants include:

• Provisions for optional all-gender restrooms and signage
• Changes to the required minimum number of plumbing fixtures for small occupancies
• Alignment of grease in sewer pipes with national standards

While the changes will not allow for small commercial buildings to use PVC piping, we do expect the Department of Buildings to revisit this issue in the future.

Click here for a one pager with a breakdown of the changes. Click here to read more from the Chicago Sun-Times.