“Equality is driving vaccine distribution in Chicago, and we want to ensure that residents of the communities most disproportionately affected by the pandemic have access to this life-saving vaccine,” Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in a press release Saturday. . “In the past week, 59 percent of those who received at least one dose of vaccine are Black or Latinx, which is consistent with the demographics of our city.”
Currently, appointment blocks have been reserved for targeted outreach to what the city calls people living in much-needed zip codes.
List of suitable postal codes
A group of members of the Illinois Democratic House sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday criticizing the decision to limit appointments to residents of Chicago and Cook County on behalf of equality goals.
RELATED: IL Politicians Demand Change to United Center Vaccine Procedure
FEMA defended its decision, saying it acted in the best interests of the most vulnerable Illinoisans. But in the letter, members of Congress reminded the bureau that people in the suburbs also need help.
The letter reads in part, “We share and defend the goal of equitable distribution of the vaccine … Nevertheless, many of our constituents who fall into the vulnerable category … have felt frustrated by the recent determination to ensure eligibility at the United Center. to limit. … “
“I want to make sure that FEMA gets those vaccines to everyone in Chicago, in the 10th district, in every community in Illinois,” said US Representative Brad Schneider.
The letter was signed by 11 Democratic Congressmen from Illinois.
There are also people in suburban areas that are not in Chicago, where there are disadvantaged communities, ” said U.S. Representative Danny Davis, who represents Chicago and the western suburbs.
The remaining United Center appointments are forwarded to people in five Chicago zip codes.
And in the Cook County suburbs, areas to the west and south are likely to be targeted.
The state has said FEMA has pledged mobile vaccination sites in the collar districts, but some suburban leaders said they haven’t heard about that yet.
“There are vulnerable people everywhere,” said Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering. “We still have to do something, and we have to do something quickly.”
The Mayor of Morton Grove said more local control over distribution would help with seniors’ transportation woes.
“I know I would prefer our seniors here to our local town hall or the American Legion center,” said Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria.
Those suburban mayors said seniors who don’t have a car or someone to help had to use public transportation to get the vaccine, and in the suburbs it could take hours.
Cook County Health opened about 20,000 first-dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments at five different vaccination sites Friday at noon, which were quickly booked.
Appointments can be made at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling the Cook County Health call center at 833-308-1988, Monday – Friday, 7am to 7pm
The sites include:
– Tinley Park Convention Center (Moderna)
– 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 distribute the Pfizer vaccine in Des Plaines the week of March 15.
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All vaccinations are by appointment only. Residents must be able to demonstrate that they are in phase 1A or 1B.
As with all Cook County Health sites, second dose appointments are scheduled on-site during the first dose appointment.
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