The COVID vaccine supersite opens in Malcolm X College on West Side, Chicago for non-hospital health workers

CHICAGO (WLS) – The city of Chicago opens its first mass vaccination clinic at Malcolm X College on the Western Side on Tuesday morning.

This supersite will enable the city to protect its health workers from COVID-19. The website will only focus on health workers who are not affiliated with the hospital and need an appointment. It is not open to the public.

The commissioner of the Department of Health in Chicago, Dr. Allison Arwady, qualified as one of the health professionals who sees patients but does not connect with a hospital. Dr. Arwady was vaccinated at Malcolm X College and said she was excited to be vaccinated.

Prior to the supersite, the city had reserved the vaccine for hospital staff. However, public health officials began distributing vaccines to nursing homes and health care workers Monday.

RELATED: COVID Vaccine: Chicago Modern Survey Begins at Brighton Park Clinic

As part of Chicago’s focus on equity, some of the first doses of Moderna vaccines were given at Esperanza Health in Brighton Park, an area with a test positivity rate that is more than double the national average.

“Portions of the Latinx community remain in crisis, and I want to make sure we do not 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 ensure minority communities keep the vaccine safe.

Dr. Arwady said health care workers and long-term care facilities will keep the vaccine throughout January and probably throughout February. In the spring, the vaccination will move to older Chicago residents and essential workers.

More than 20,000 vaccinations have been given to health workers in Chicago hospitals.

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