“Equity drives all distribution of vaccines in Chicago, and we want to ensure that residents of the communities that have had the most profound impact on the pandemic have access to this life-saving vaccine,” Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot said in a news release on Saturday. . “In the past week, 59 percent of those who have received at least one vaccine dose are black or Latinx, which is consistent with the demographics of our city.”
Currently, blocks of appointments have been set aside for a purposeful outreach to what the city calls people living in postcodes with high needs.
A list of suitable postal codes
A group of Democratic U.S. House members from Illinois sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday criticizing the decision to restrict appointments to Chicago and Cook County residents on behalf of equity targets.
RELATED: IL politicians demand change to 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 reads in part: ‘We share and strive for the purpose of equitable distribution of the vaccine … Nevertheless, many of our voters who fall into the vulnerable category … feel frustrated by the recent determination to adapt to the vaccine. United Center to limit. … “
“I want to make sure FEMA gets the vaccines to everyone in Chicago, in the 10th District, in every community in Illinois,” said U.S. Representative Brad Schneider.
The letter was signed by 11 Democratic congressmen from Illinois.
There are also people in suburban areas who are not in Chicago, where there are disadvantaged communities, “said U.S. Representative Danny Davis, who represents Chicago and western suburbs.
The remaining appointments of the United Center are addressed to people in five Chicago zip codes.
And in suburban Cook County, areas to the west and south are likely to be targeted.
The state said FEMA had promised mobile vaccination sites in the kraal districts, but some suburban leaders said they had not heard anything about it yet.
“There are vulnerable people everywhere,” said Nancy Rotering, Mayor of Highland Park. “We need to do something more, and we need to do something soon.”
The mayor of Morton Grove said more local control over distribution would help with seniors’ transportation challenges.
“I know I would rather have our seniors come here to our local town hall or the American Legion Center,” said Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria.
The suburban mayors said seniors who did not have a car or anyone to help had to use public transportation to get the vaccine, and it could take hours in the suburbs.
Cook County Health opened about 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine appointments at five different vaccination sites at 12 a.m. Friday, which was quickly booked.
Appointments can be made at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling the Call County Health Call Center at 833-308-1988, Monday – Friday from 7am to 7pm.
The 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 the limited supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Cook County Health will supply the Pfizer vaccine at Des Plaines in the week of March 15th.
SEE ALSO | Cook County Health sends vaccine vaccination texts before a few second doses
All vaccinations are by appointment only. Residents must provide proof that they are in phase 1A or 1B.
As with all Cook County Health websites, two-dose appointments will be scheduled during the first-dose appointment on site.
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