This supersite will allow the city to take a step forward to protect healthcare professionals from COVID-19. The site will focus only on health professionals not affiliated with hospitals and requires consultation. It is not open to the public.
“Honestly, I can’t feel it,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago Department of Health Commissioner.
Arwady said there was no jump ahead for her. As an outpatient health worker, she and thousands of other health professionals who are not in the hospital qualify for the vaccine.
Also among those who should be vaccinated is Chris Ballinger, who treats patients with COVID-19 at Medical Immediate Care.
“We recently had an increase in the number of patients, so it is good to finally get to this point,” said Ballinger.
Ballinger said he did not hesitate to get the vaccine. Nor does Dr. Florence Roche, who also works in immediate care units.
“It’s a start, it’s always good to have hope and a sense of direction,” said Roche.
“The first thing is to make sure that your office is already registered in the city of Chicago, which can be a dental office, outpatient clinic, school, nurse”. said Arwady.
After registering, the city sends a code to make the schedule. After vaccinating, the city continues with text messages asking about any side effects.
Dr. Arwady said it is a process that is likely to take a few months. She does not expect vaccinations to start with the next group (1B) for several weeks. For teachers, it can be longer.
“If I had to put in a schedule, it would be spring, March, April, us, it depends on how much vaccine we get,” said Arwady.
Before supersite, the city reserved the vaccine for hospital staff. However, public health officials began distributing vaccines to nursing homes and community health workers on Monday.
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As part of Chicago’s focus on equity, some of the first doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered at Esperanza Health in Brighton Park, a neighborhood with a positive test rate that is more than double the city average.
“Parts of the Latinx community are still in crisis and I want to make sure we don’t lose sight of that,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
The Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Center in Englewood was the first long-term care facility in Chicago to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, while the city continues to reassure minority communities that the vaccine is safe.
Dr. Arwady said health professionals and long-term care institutions will continue to receive the vaccine throughout January and most of February. In the spring, vaccination will be transferred to older Chicagoans and essential workers.
More than 20,000 vaccinations have been administered to healthcare professionals in Chicago hospitals.
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