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* Sun-Times earlier this week…
In a bid to vaccinate more people of color in neighborhoods hit hard by COVID-19, city officials Wednesday limited registration for United Center appointments to Chicagoans in a handful of South and Southwest Side neighborhoods.
Anyone who lives in the 60608, 60619, 60620, 60649 or 60652 ZIP codes can sign up for an appointment at events.juvare.com/chicago/UCPOD/ with the code “CCVICHICAGO,” or by reaching the multilingual call center at (312) 746-4835.
Chicago residents from outside those ZIP codes who try to sign up will have their appointments canceled, according to a city flyer circulated by several community groups.
Chicago will be allotted 60% of the vaccines administered at the United Center for its residents, while Cook County and the state determine rules for other residents. That’s the latest change in a signup process that has caused confusion from the start.
* Just got an anecdotal report about the United Center being a veritable ghost town…
A group of Illinois’ Democratic U.S. House members sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday condemning this week’s rollout of the highly trumpeted United Center mass vaccination site, arguing the decision to restrict appointments to Chicago and Cook County residents on behalf of equity goals has angered some of their most vulnerable constituents.
The letter to acting FEMA Administrator Robert Fenton was signed by 11 of Illinois’ 13 Democratic House members, who represent at least parts of the suburbs and collar counties, and initiated by U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, a Deerfield Democrat.
“Many of our constituents who fall in the vulnerable category, but who don’t live in Chicago, felt frustrated with the recent determination to limit eligibility at the United Center Federal Mass Vaccination Center for Illinois residents,” the letter reads. “Their confusion was exacerbated with the abruptness of the announcement, and the consequent uncertainty surrounding their future access to a vaccination appointment.” […]
Other representatives who signed the letter were: U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, of Evanston, Danny Davis, of Chicago, Sean Casten, of Downers Grove, Robin Kelly, of Matteson, Bill Foster, of Naperville, Jesús “Chuy” García, of Chicago, Raja Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, Bobby Rush, of Chicago, Mike Quigley, of Chicago, and Marie Newman, of La Grange.
The letter from the representatives said they too share the goal of equitable distribution, but completely barring some of their constituents from United Center appointments was an unfair “departure” from the operation’s original purpose of serving Illinoisans, they said. The lawmakers also lambasted the last-minute changes as particularly anguishing for those with health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19.
Interestingly enough, every Black and Brown US Rep. signed that letter [except for Lauren Underwood, but she has an exurban district].
* Yesterday…
On Thursday, Gov. Pritzker explained the recent limitations added to the United Center vaccination site.
It comes after complaints, frustration and accusations that the rules were changed in the middle of the game. […]
“It’s not a state site, it’s a federal site. We’re very glad to have it. Let me be clear,” Pritzker said. “We get 6,000 doses a day.”
The United Center’s mass vaccination site was hailed at the largest in the state, run by FEMA. It was initially open to the public for anyone 16 and over with an underlying condition, but that soon changed.
“FEMA decided to change the rules,” Pritzker said. “FEMA decided that there wasn’t enough equity that was being achieved with the location at the United Center. They had hoped to get more Black and Brown people in to get shots so they changes some of the rules, locations and zip codes for people.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 12:58 pm
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==Interestingly enough, every Black and Brown US Rep. signed that letter.==
The usual victims of red lining.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:05 pm
I took my Dad there to get vaccinated at 11am on this past Wednesday. I wouldn’t have called it a ghost town, but it looked pretty empty. The parking lot was about half filled. No line, no wait. Dad got his paperwork checked, got directed to one of the tents, went in and got the shot right away. We were in and out in 20 minutes. The National Guard and staff were tremendous.
Comment by SouthSide Markie Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:08 pm
Maybe instead of wasting time trying to just be exquisitely fair and targeted, just focus on getting as many shots in arms as possible?
Eventually you’ll run through all the people who have time to sit on websites all day waiting for appointments to open up, and it’ll be easier for people who don’t.
Comment by yeah... Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:12 pm
==Interestingly enough, every Black and Brown US Rep. signed that letter.==
Except Rep. Lauren Underwood.
Comment by Hot Taeks Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:16 pm
The zip codes break down as such:
60619 - Chatham, 60620 - Auburn Gresham, 60649 - South Shore, and 60652 - Auburn Gresham.
Gosh, I wonder why people who are more likely to work and sleep non-traditional hours, who are more likely to need childcare, who are less likely to have a car, who are less likely to have internet access, aren’t taking this trek to the United Center to get a vaccine that if it’s not the Johnson and Johnson, they’ll making again in two weeks.
In a city as hyper-segregated as Chicago, you need to ensure that the South and West side (i.e. black and Latino residents) have access and are not getting crowded out by those from areas that just don’t like the wait time for their jurisdiction’s vaccine allotment. But this is not how you do it! It’s pretty clear someone at FEMA didn’t walk through the exercise of getting to the United Center.
Comment by Nuke The Whales Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:17 pm
I remember being told this site was open for anyone eligible state wide. I was surprised by that. Must have been poor planning to change in middle. Somehow I don’t think FEMA changed rules on its own. If certain areas are underserved and they know areas why not have a site there? Have a site in each of the 50 wards. This really is incompetence. And again I don’t think it is on FEMA
Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:18 pm
= Interestingly enough, every Black and Brown US Rep. signed that letter. =
They have a lot of constituents who don’t live in those few zip codes.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:21 pm
Except Rep. Lauren Underwood.
While I would normally take every chance to cheap shot the accidental Rep, in fact she does NOT have any Cook county constituents.
Comment by Fav Human Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:24 pm
=== That is not what FEMA said.===
I can’t find that quote. Can you cite it?
Thanks.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:36 pm
It was first advertised/trumpeted that the United Center would be available statewide to all State Residents. They also announced they would begin taking appointments statewide on a certain date. When I got online on that date, it stated all appointments were filled and the United Center was not even listed as a site. The next day, I scheduled appointments for myself and my wife, but they are a half hour apart on the same day. Fine.
Two days later I got notices that the appointment dates were changed to 3:00 p.m. instead of in the morning for both. Fine. Several hours later I got notices that I should ignore the original rescheduling notice and our appointments were again at the original times. Fine.
Then the politicians all suddenly stated you needed to be residents of Chicago to schedule appointments, but that prior appointments would be honored. Fine.
They then modified that by limiting appointments to only certain zip codes in Chicago, but that prior appointments would be honored. Fine.
Then both the Tribune and Sun-Times the following day reported that non-Chicago/Cook County residents were being told that they would be contacted and redirected elsewhere for the second shot after taking the first one. Huh? Yesterday, it was reported that the head of the Chicago Department of Health was looking into all this after getting peppered with questions from the press. Huh? Everyone receiving the first shot not in a certain zip code will be redirected elsewhere. Redirected to the same places I and my wife are still on multiple waiting and registration lists? Still waiting after two months for someone to call and at least give an update or two?
I would have preferred two cancellations because they changed the rules, phases, than all the drama and wondering the past 7 days. Or will I be cancelled the night before or while driving in towards the United Center?
Now I’ve been told by several individuals that received shots at the United Center (all Chicago residents so far) that hardly anyone was there and national guardsmen were standing around waiting for the next patients. These people all work in my downtown office building, which is 15 minutes away from the United Center. Huh?
It is about time someone jumped on all this and I commend the U.S. Representatives including my Congressmen for speaking out. I can just imagine the calls their offices are receiving.
Chaotic. Contradictory. Repeatedly changing rules and qualifications. Not a good look.
Which elected officials will own up to this mess? And who will finally straighten it all out? Get the TV trucks out there and someone finally will take the initiative.
Sheesh.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 1:48 pm
Rep Schneider has many constituents in the 10th District who continue to have difficulties getting vaccine appointments. Might be a good idea if he focused some of his time and energy on those in his District. Get on it, Rep Schneider. NOW
Comment by Joliet gram Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 2:04 pm
It was a bad look to change the rules after all the publicity and hoopla over the announcement (regardless of whomever is to blame for the change). And it will be even worse if it is determined that any United Center vaccine went to waste for lack of appts. or walk-ins from those select zip codes.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 2:28 pm
==It’s pretty clear someone at FEMA didn’t walk through the exercise of getting to the United Center.==
Yes. It made me think it’s also kind of like bringing in out of state political consultants to work on campaigns who don’t know the territory or understand Illinois politics.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 2:41 pm
=Gosh, I wonder why people who are more likely to work and sleep non-traditional hours, who are more likely to need childcare, who are less likely to have a car, who are less likely to have internet access, aren’t taking this trek to the United Center to get a vaccine that if it’s not the Johnson and Johnson, they’ll making again in two weeks.=
Yep - going twice is huge problem for many.
The J&J needs to be put on wheels and then hold pop-up vaccination sites. A show of real equity will be to bring the vaccine to the people - not to ask them to come to you.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 2:53 pm
A bit surprised not to see Rep. Underwood on the letter, the United Center is not that bad of a drive from Naperville and Aurora.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 3:12 pm
Why don’t they take the one shot J&J and arrange for vaccine sessions in local schools, churches, and halls in those zipcodes. Still going to have people who need personal home visits for various reasons. United Center is OK if you travel regularly which can is still be many people. If you cannot travel it does not matter where it is, people will not get there.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 3:20 pm
for those not in or around Chicago…. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/sites/covid/reports/2020-04-24/ChicagoCommunityAreaandZipcodeMap.pdf
Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 4:19 pm
They blame FEMA for changing the rules but who put the pressure on FEMA for changing the rules. It seems someone was seeking plausible deniability. I hope that it comes out.
Comment by Fishingvest Monday, Mar 15, 21 @ 9:14 am