This super site allows the city to step up its efforts to protect health workers from COVID-19. The site is aimed at non-hospital health workers only and requires an appointment. It is not open to the public.
“I really can’t feel it,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health.
Arwady said she couldn’t jump ahead of her. As an outpatient health worker, she and thousands of other non-hospital health workers are eligible for the vaccine.
Also among those getting vaccinated is Chris Ballinger, who treats COVID-19 patients at Physicians Immediate Care.
“We’ve had a rise in the number of patients recently, so it’s nice to finally get that far,” Ballinger said.
Ballinger said he did not hesitate to take the vaccine. Neither di Dr. Florence Roche, who also works in direct care facilities.
“It’s a start, it’s always good to be hopeful and have an idea of the right direction,” said Roche.
“First of all, make sure your practice is already registered with the City of Chicago, which could be a dental office, outpatient clinic, school, nurse.” said Arwady.
After registration, the municipality will send a code to make an appointment. Once vaccinated, the city will follow up with text messages asking about any side effects.
Dr. Arwady said it is a process that will likely take over the next few months. She does not expect the vaccinations to start in the next group (1B) for several weeks. For teachers it can be longer.
“If I had to set up a timeline, it would be spring, March, April, it depends on how much vaccine we get,” Arwady said.
Before the supersite, the city reserved the vaccine for hospital staff. However, public health officials began distributing vaccines to nursing homes and local health workers on Monday.
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As part of Chicago’s focus on equality, some of Moderna’s first vaccination doses were given at Esperanza Health in Brighton Park, a neighborhood with a test positivity rate 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 Care Center in Englewood was the first long-term care facility in Chicago to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as the city continues to assure minority communities that the vaccine is safe.
Dr. Arwady said health professionals and long-term care facilities will continue to receive the vaccine throughout January and likely most of February. In the spring, vaccination will move to older Chicago residents and essential workers.
More than 20,000 vaccinations have been administered to health professionals at Chicago hospitals.
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