This supersite will allow the city to make efforts to protect health workers against COVID-19. The site will focus only on non-hospital health workers and will require an appointment. It is not open to the public.
“I honestly can’t feel that,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health.
Arwady said there was no jump in front of the line. As a patient working in health care, she and thousands of other non-hospital workers qualify for the vaccine.
Also among those to be vaccinated is Chris Ballinger, who treats COVID-19 patients at Physicians Immediate Care.
“Recently, we’ve had an increase in the number of patients, so it’s nice to finally get to this point,” Ballinger said.
Ballinger said he did not hesitate to get the vaccine. Nor is Dr. Florence Roche, who also works in immediate care facilities.
“It’s a start, it’s always good to be hopeful and have the right direction,” Roche said.
“The first thing is to make sure that your office is already registered in Chicago, which can be a dental practice, patient, school, nurse.” said Arwady.
After registration, the city sends a code to make an appointment. Once vaccinated, the city follows text messages asking about any side effects.
Dr. Arwady said the trial is likely to take several months. She does not expect vaccinations to start with the next group (1B) for a few weeks. For teachers, it can be longer.
“If I had to set a timeline, it would be spring, March-April, we’ll depend on how much vaccine we get,” Arwady said.
Prior to the supersite, the city reserved the vaccine for hospital staff. However, public health officials began distributing vaccines to nursing homes and community health workers Monday.
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As part of Chicago’s focus on equity, some of the first doses of the Moderna vaccine were given at Esperanza Health in Brighton Park, a neighborhood with a test positive rate that is more than double the city average.
“Portions of the Latinx community remain in crisis and I want to make sure we don’t lose sight of this,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
The Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Englewood was the first long-term care center in Chicago to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as the city continues to reassure minority communities that the vaccine is safe.
Dr. Arwady said that health workers and long-term care institutions will continue to receive the vaccine throughout January and probably most of February. In the spring, vaccination will move to old Chicagoans and essential workers.
More than 20,000 vaccinations have been given to health care workers at Chicago hospitals.
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