This super site will allow the city to give a boost to protect health workers against COVID-19. The site will only focus on non-hospital health workers and will need an appointment. It is not open to the public.
“Honestly, I can’t hear it,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health.
Arwady said there was no jump in front of the line. As a patient health worker, she and thousands of other non-hospital health workers qualify for the vaccine.
Also among those vaccinated is Chris Ballinger, who treats COVID-19 patients in Physicians Immediate Care.
“We’ve recently had an increase in patients, so it’s good to finally get to that point,” Ballinger said.
Ballinger said he did not hesitate to take the vaccine. Nor does Dr. Florence Roche, who also works in immediate care centers.
“It’s a start, it’s always good to have hope and have a sense of the right direction,” Roche said.
“The first thing is to make sure your consultation is already registered in the city of Chicago, which can be a dental office, outpatient, school, nurse.” said Arwady.
After registration, the city sends a code in order to make an appointment. Once vaccinated, the city continues with text messages asking about side effects.
Dr. Arwady said it is a process that will probably take the next two months. He does not expect vaccinations to begin with the next group (1B) for several weeks. For teachers, it can be longer.
“If I had to put a timeline, it would be spring, March-April, when it depends on how much vaccine we get,” Arwady said.
Before the supermarket, the city reserved the vaccine for hospital staff. However, public health officials began distributing vaccines to nursing homes and community health workers on Monday.
RELATED: COVID Vaccine: Launch of Modern Chicago Shot Begins at Brighton Park Clinic
As part of Chicago’s approach to equity, some of the first doses of Modern vaccine were given to Esperanza Health in Brighton Park, a neighborhood with a test positivity rate that exceeds twice the average all the city.
“Some parts of the Latinx community are still in crisis and I want to make sure we don’t lose sight of it,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
The Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Englewood was the first long-term care center in Chicago to receive COVID-19 vaccines, as the city continues to reassure minority communities that the vaccine is safe. .
Dr. Arwady said health workers and long-term care facilities will continue to receive the vaccine throughout January and probably most of February. In the spring, vaccination will be moved to older Chicago people and essential workers.
More than 20,000 vaccines have been administered to health workers at Chicago hospitals.
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