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Chicago Department of Public Health Expands Community Efforts with Hyper-local Vaccine Events as Chicagoans Encouraged to Get Vaccinated Through the Holiday Weekend

May 25, 2021

Community vaccine efforts are an extension of the Protect Chicago Plus program

COVID-19 Joint Information Center    media.coronavirus@cityofchicago.org

CHICAGO—The Chicago Department of Public Health is hosting dozens of COVID-19 vaccination pop-ups and special events throughout the city this week and into the Memorial Day weekend with a continued focus on communities where vaccine up-take remains low. Events are being held at parks, beaches, farmers markets, churches, food pantries and more, with the special vaccine buses (the Vaccination Station) also appearing at convenient neighborhood settings so residents can easily access the vaccine right in their communities.

A complete calendar of pop-ups and special events is on the City’s vaccine website at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/calendar-of-events.html. New events are added weekly that will include door-to-door canvassing, with people being trained as vaccine ambassadors to go out into communities.

“This hyper-local approach is the next stage in our vaccination strategy—bringing vaccine directly to communities and events where people are, even right to their homes,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Chicagoans who have not yet been vaccinated to get their vaccine.”

The effort is an extension of the City’s Protect Chicago Plus program, an initiative that initially targeted 15 high-need communities based on the City’s COVID vulnerability index. It worked to ensure that a significant part of the City’s initially limited vaccine supply went to these communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of Protect Chicago Plus, from early February through early May, individuals with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the 15 initial communities sky-rocketed – made possible in part by more than 124,000 doses allocated at Protect Chicago Plus temporary clinics and at special events. Also as a result of the City of Chicago’s equity strategy for vaccine distribution, an analysis by CDPH shows that the City leads major U.S. cities in Latinx and Black vaccine coverage. 

“While we’ve made great progress and more than half the city has now received at least a first dose of the vaccine, in too many communities those rates still lag far behind, and these are the same communities most impacted by COVID-19,” said Dr. Arwady. “This vaccine is safe and effective and it’s working to stem the spread of the virus, but we want to see better up-take throughout the entire city.” 

In addition to pop-up events, the City recently announced the expansion of it’s in-home vaccination program, called Protect Chicago At Home. Anyone age 65 or older, or anyone with a disability or medical condition is now eligible. Residents can call (312) 746-4835 to schedule an appointment for in-home vaccination.

All COVID-19 vaccines are offered at no cost to everyone, no insurance or ID required. For information about COVID-19 vaccines in Chicago, visit www.chicago.gov/covidvax.

The following is a complete list of events through Sunday, May 30. Check https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/calendar-of-events.html for times.  All events will offer the Pfizer and J & J vaccine.

Tuesday May 25

Hopewell Church Food Distribution, 2308 W Harrison

GAGDC Food Stability Pop Up, 7938 S Halsted

Care For Real Food Pantry, 1545 W Morse

NOBLE Johnson College Prep, 6350 S Stewart Ave

Wednesday May 26

North Bethlehem Food Pantry, 8850 S Cottage Grove Ave

Atlas Senior Center, 1767 E 79th St

House of Vans Parking Lot, 113 N Elizabeth St

Care for Real Food Pantry, 5339 N Sheridan

Noble DRW College Prep, 931 S Homan Ave

St. Florian: Svdp Food Pantry, 13115 S Houston Ave

Andersonville Farmer's Market, 1500 W Catalpa

St Steven AME, 3042 W Washington Blvd

Thursday May 27

Auburn-Gresham's Health Fair, 1737 E 95th St Chicago

TSA: Midwest Corps Pantry, 20 S Campbell Ave

Salvation Army Red Shield Center, 945 W 69th St

St. Martin De Porres, 5112 W Washington Blvd

GAGDC Auburn Gresham Health Fair on the Block, 7900 S Racine

Evening Star MBC (Food Pantry), 2050 W 59th Street

Chicago CRED, 519 W 103rd St

NOBLE Gary Comer College Prep, 7131 S Chicago Ave

Friday May 28

North Austin Library, 5724 W North Ave

Kingdom Baptist Church Food Pantry, 301 N Central Ave

Crusaders Church Food Distribution, 7859 S Ashland

Humboldt Park, 1301 N Humbolt Dr

NOBLE Hansberry College Prep, 8748 S Aberdeen

Rainbow Beach, 2873 E 75th St

Saturday May 29

Fenger High School, 11220 S Wallace

Englewood STEM High School, 6835 S Normal

King High School, 4445 S Drexel

Carver Military High School, 13100 S Doty

Clark High School, 5101 W Harrison

Gage Park, Garfield & Western Blvd

Sherman Park community, 1301 W. 52nd St

West Garfield Park community, 251 S. Kildare Ave

New Bethlehem MB Church, 8850 S Cottage Grove Ave

Millennium Park, 201 E Randolph

63rd St Beach / Jackson Park, 6300 S Lake Shore Dr

Sunday, May 30

95th St Farmers Market, 1827 W 95th St

Logan Square Farmers Market, 3107 W Logan Blvd

Montrose Beach, 4400 N Lake Shore Dr

Douglas Park, 1401 S Sacramento Dr

Marquette Park, 6743 S Kedzie Ave

Washington Park, 5531 S King Dr

Montclare community, 6814 W Wrightwood

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