“Equity drives the entire vaccine distribution in Chicago and we want to ensure that residents of communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic have access to this life-saving vaccine,” Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in a press release on Saturday. “Last week, 59 percent of those who received at least one dose of the vaccine are black or Latino, which corresponds to the demographics of our city.”
Currently, blocks of commitments have been reserved for dissemination aimed at what the city calls people who live in CEPs in high need.
List of eligible zip codes
A group of Democratic members of the US House of Illinois sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday criticizing its decision to restrict nominations for Chicago and Cook County residents in the name of equality goals.
RELATED: IL Politicians Demand Change in United Center Vaccination Procedure
FEMA defended its decision saying it was acting in the interests of the most vulnerable Illinoisans. But in the letter, members of Congress reminded the agency that people in the suburbs also need help.
The letter says in part: “We share and uphold the goal of equitable distribution of the vaccine … However, many of our constituents who fall into the vulnerable category … were frustrated by the recent determination to limit eligibility at United Center. .. “
“I want to make sure that FEMA is providing these vaccines to everyone in Chicago, in the 10th district, in all communities in Illinois,” said US Representative Brad Schneider.
The letter was signed by 11 Democratic members of the Illinois Congress.
There are also people in suburban areas that are not in Chicago, where there are underserved communities, “said US Representative Danny Davis, who represents Chicago and the western suburbs.
The rest of the United Center’s nominations are being targeted at people in five Chicago postcodes.
And in the suburban district of Cook, areas in the west and south are likely to be targeted.
The state said FEMA had promised mobile vaccination sites in collar counties, but some suburban leaders said they had not yet heard about it.
“There are vulnerable people everywhere,” said Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. “We need to do something more and we need to do something soon.”
The Mayor of Morton Grove said that more local control of distribution would help with the transportation challenges of the elderly.
“I know I would prefer our elderly people to come here to our local village hall or American Legion center,” said Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria.
These suburban mayors said that elderly people who don’t have a car or someone to help need to use public transport to get the vaccine, and in the suburbs, it can take hours.
Cook County Health opened approximately 20,000 consultations for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at five different vaccination sites on Friday at 12 noon, which were quickly scheduled.
Appointments can be made at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling the Cook County Health call center at 833-308-1988, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm
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 limited supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Cook County Health will supply the Pfizer vaccine in Des Plaines the week of March 15.
SEE ALSO | Cook County Health sending texts requesting confirmation of the vaccine before some 2nd dose consultations
All vaccinations are by appointment only. Residents must provide proof that they are in Phase 1A or 1B.
As with all health centers in Cook County, second dose appointments will be scheduled on site during the first dose appointment.
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