“Equity drives all vaccine distribution in Chicago, and we want to make sure residents in the communities that have been most disproportionately affected by the pandemic have access to this life-saving vaccine,” Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in a news release Saturday . “In the last week, 59% of those who have received at least one dose of vaccine are black or Latinx, which is in line with the demographics of our city.”
Currently, appointment blocks have been set aside for a targeted approach to what the city calls people living in postcodes in great need.
List of eligible postal codes
A group of members of the US Democratic House in Illinois sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday criticizing the decision to restrict the appointments of Chicago and Cook County residents on behalf of equity goals.
RELATED TO: IL politicians demand change of United Center vaccination procedure
FEMA has defended its decision, saying it is acting in the interests of the most vulnerable in Illinois. But in the letter, members of Congress reminded the agency that people in the suburbs also need help.
The letter reads in part: “We share and promote the goal of equitable distribution of the vaccine … However, many of our constituents who fall into the vulnerable category … have been frustrated by the recent decision to limit eligibility to the United Center. . “
“I want to make sure that FEMA receives these vaccines from everyone in Chicago, from District 10, from every community in Illinois,” said US Representative Brad Schneider.
The letter was signed by 11 members of the Illinois Democratic Congress.
There are people in suburban areas who are not in Chicago, where there are disadvantaged communities, “said US Representative Danny Davis, who represents Chicago and the western suburbs.
The other meetings of the United Center are aimed at people with five postal codes in Chicago.
And in suburban Cook County, the western and southern areas will likely be targeted.
The state said FEMA had promised mobile vaccination sites in collared counties, but some suburban leaders said they had not yet heard of it.
“There are vulnerable people scattered everywhere,” said Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. “We need to do more and we need to do something soon.”
The mayor of Morton Grove said more local control of the distribution would help address the challenges of transporting the elderly.
“I know we’d rather our seniors come right here to the local town hall or the center of the American Legion,” said Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria.
Those suburban mayors said elderly people who do not have a car or someone to help were forced to use public transportation to get the vaccine, and in the suburbs, it can take several hours.
Cook County Health opened approximately 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine appointments for the first dose at five different vaccination locations Friday at 12 p.m., which were quickly booked.
Appointments can be made at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling the Cook County Health Center at 833-308-1988, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sites include:
– Tinley Park Convention Center (Modern)
– Triton College (Pfizer)
– South Suburban College (Pfizer)
– North Riverside Health Center (Pfizer)
– Des Plaines * (Pfizer – week of March 15)
* Due to Johnson & Johnson’s limited vaccine supply, Cook County Health will deliver the Pfizer vaccine to Des Plaines in the week of March 15th.
SEE ALSO | Cook County Health Sends Texts Requesting Vaccine Confirmation Before Several Second-Dose Meetings
All vaccinations are by appointment only. Residents will be required to provide proof that they are in Phase 1A or 1B.
As with all Cook County health sites, appointments for the second dose will be scheduled on site during the appointment for the first dose.
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