CDPH said Innovative Express Care, located at 2400 N. Ashland Avenue, “deliberately misallocated” 6,000 doses of vaccines intended for CPS employees. As a result, CDPH said it will retrieve all vaccines distributed and stored at the IEC.
Innovative Express Care issued a statement denying the allegations, claiming that so-called poorly allocated doses were not used by the CPS at the end of each week and were administered as first doses to the elderly, frontline staff and other qualified patients.
An IEC spokesman said in a statement: “All doses of vaccine that were not used by the CPS at the end of each week went to another patient eligible for their first dose. We always guaranteed that there were sufficient allocations for additional doses for all patients. CPS employees. “
IEC said the city’s decision left them “sad” and “disappointed”, adding that “CDPH officials never made it clear to us, as suppliers, that we should store vaccines in a refrigerator for people waiting for their second dose. “
CDPH said it has identified new suppliers to take on and administer the vaccine to those scheduled to receive a dose through Innovative Express Care.
CDPH said that CPS staff with commitments on Wednesday, March 24, will be rescheduled for the near future and notifications are in progress. CPS staff with existing appointments on Thursday, March 25 and thereafter will continue to be vaccinated at the same location as the CPS high school where they were originally scheduled.
But for Renee LaBuda, it means another contest for nominations.
“My second dose was scheduled for Friday, so now I’m in a panic and I don’t know what to do,” she said.
LaBuda received a phone call and a message saying that his IEC vaccine appointment was canceled and was given a website and a phone number to call.
“I was on hold for 10 minutes and they didn’t know,” said LaBuda. “I said my appointment at Innovative Express was canceled. She said I don’t know what you’re talking about and hung up on me.”
LaBuda said he tried the number again, but with no luck.
“I have two days, two days to get them during the second dose consultation somewhere,” said LaBuda. “I really hope someone will help me, I really hope.”
The Chicago Teachers’ Union called what happened “a multi-level failure of the people who run our school district”.
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Innovative Express Care full statement
We strongly disagree with the claims made by the Chicago Department of Public Health of a misallocation of vaccines for CPS staff.
We are proud to operate four CPS vaccination sites. Last week, all CPS employees had the opportunity to be vaccinated due to our ability to effectively operate a vaccine distribution effort. The CPS highlighted the news of an effective partnership during a CPS event last week that celebrated the distribution of vaccination. In the official press release, CPS officials stated that a significant number of CPS employees received vaccines on March 17, 2021. Innovative Express Care is proud to have vaccinated thousands of CPS employees in one of four locations and many other CPS employees in our clinic.
All doses of the vaccine that were not used by the CPS at the end of each week went to another patient eligible for their first dose. We always made sure that there were enough allocations for additional doses for all CPS employees. We received vaccines every week, and our intention was always to have a 100% utilization rate so that each dose we received was placed in the arm of a qualified patient that week. Clearly, we took this idealistic view very seriously, which meant that doses aimed at CPS staff actually went to the elderly, essential frontline workers and other qualified patients. We never deviate from our commitment to CPS employees, nor to other qualified people.
The decision by CDPH officials today leaves us perplexed, sad and downright disappointed with our local government. CDPH staff never made it clear to us, as providers, that we should store vaccines in a refrigerator for people waiting for their second dose. Instead, we have followed the nation’s commitment to getting as many vaccines into the arms of eligible patients as quickly as possible. Our mission involved vaccinating the largest number of eligible patients as quickly as possible, and not at the whim of the latest political crisis in the city’s civil servant.
To be clear, Innovative Express Care vaccinated eligible individuals in a phased approach, as dictated by the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois since January. We have learned from other health professionals along the way, always adhering to medical ethics. We have helped a number of community organizations by proactively scheduling qualified individuals who live in black and brown communities with few medical services. Our past history, as recorded in various media reports, and the voices of appreciation from the patients themselves on social media are evidence of our positive impact. The effective distribution of the vaccine must be modeled, not penalized.
We have been serving our community since the beginning of this pandemic and we will continue to do so through testing. We are deeply disappointed by the city’s decision to remove us as a vaccine supplier. Chicago needs more vaccination sites that are actually distributing their doses to eligible patients, not less.
Complete statement from the Chicago Public Schools
Since the CPS vaccination program was fully launched last month, we have been able to consistently offer at least 1,500 first dose appointments to all employees each week, while rapidly expanding eligibility to include all employees. We are deeply concerned about the claims involving Innovative Express and are committed to a smooth transition that guarantees minimal disruption to the team. We have worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health to identify a new vaccination partner who will begin operating our vaccination sites on Thursday, and Innovative Express’s actions have not affected our ability to offer consultations so far.
Chicago Teachers Union full statement
After hearing the mayor and the CPS leadership tell us that vaccinating teachers before returning to face-to-face teaching was impossible, so about how ‘robust’ their plan was, we now find that 6,000 doses of the vaccine have been taken and given to others in instead of educators and CPS staff – many of whom are some of the most medically vulnerable people working in our schools. Several teachers and staff have had appointments scheduled for less than 24 hours canceled from now. It is a failure, on several levels, of the people who run our school district.
“The CPS and the mayor have canceled licenses because they believe vaccines have been offered to our members, and have launched a smear campaign accusing them of non-compliance with receiving and reporting doses. But that, plus the Loretto Hospital, gives rise to two scandals in terms of days. Before the CPS cancels anyone’s license, they may want to audit who is doing what with vaccine doses for workers in our schools. And the Chicago City Council should be holding hearings on how the city is partnering with organizations to administer this potentially life-saving drug.
Complete statement from the Chicago Department of Public Health
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), since the beginning of the vaccine implantation, has made it clear that all providers receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine must strictly comply with all CDPH reporting guidelines and requirements on the administration of the vaccine. vaccine received doses.
If CDPH knows of a vaccine that is not being administered properly, CDPH acts quickly to determine whether the guidelines for distribution or administration have been followed properly. When necessary, CDPH will pause or interrupt the administration of new doses to providers who do not follow the guidelines. When we do this, our first priority is to minimize disruption to the vaccination process and residents who have vaccination appointments.
To that end, today, the CDPH has stopped distributing the vaccine for Innovative Express Care (“IEC”). IEC has signed a contract with the Chicago Public Schools to administer the vaccine to CPS staff. Since then, the CDPH has learned that the IEC administered the vaccine to non-CPS individuals without prior authorization. As a result, CDPH will retrieve all vaccines distributed and stored at IEC in accordance with standard safe transport protocols.
Based on the CPHR review of IEC vaccine allocations and administration, we determined that they deliberately misallocated more than 6,000 doses of vaccine, including the use of the vaccine allocated for second doses for the first doses. This is totally unacceptable behavior.
We have already identified new suppliers to take on and administer the vaccine to those scheduled to receive a dose through Innovative Express Care.
Continuity of operations is our highest priority. CPS staff with commitments on Wednesday, March 24, will be rescheduled for the near future and notifications are in progress. CPS staff with existing appointments on Thursday, March 25 and thereafter will continue to be vaccinated at the same location as the CPS high school where they were originally scheduled.
The IEC will no longer do any first dose vaccinations, and people can visit the Zocdoc to find available consultations. Anyone scheduled for a second dose visit through the Innovative Express clinic will be vaccinated at a special clinic set up for them at Truman College. These people are being contacted and informed about the next steps to schedule your appointment.
Since we started our vaccination efforts, we have administered more than 1 million doses to more than 200 providers across the city, with a special focus on individuals at increased risk of serious illness due to COVID-19. We will continue to work closely with providers who are vaccinating in accordance with this mission.
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