Illinois coronavirus: Cook County’s last mass vaccination site closes July 21

Cook County’s three remaining COVID-19 mass vaccination sites will close next week as public health experts look for other ways to reach communities where vaccination rates remain low, officials said Thursday.

More than 600,000 injections have been given at the county’s mass vax sites – three of which had already been closed by the end of May – but their use has fallen from a peak of around 4,000 doses per day to less than 100, according to the CEO of Cook County Health. Israel Rocha. The Western Suburbs of Forest Park and Northern Plains Suburb sites will close on July 20, followed by the Southern Suburbs of Matteson site the following day.

“We are seeing a decrease in demand for vaccination in this type of setting,” said Rocha. “Our goal now is to change hearts and minds, to educate and encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated. This requires a much more local effort, and we will devote our resources to it in depth. “

According to Dr Kiran Joshi, co-head of the Cook County Public Health Department.

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About 60% of Cook County residents have received at least one injection, with about 52% of white residents and 76% of Asian residents, compared to 46% of Latino residents and 40% of black residents, according to county data. .

Geographically, 68% of people in predominantly white northern suburbs have been vaccinated, compared to about 46% of those in predominantly black southern suburbs. Not even 20% of Ford Heights residents have had a chance.

“We will continually provide immunization opportunities to these communities, while working hand in hand with partners who are trusted messengers in explaining how COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective,” Joshi said.

The importance of this effort is growing day by day as the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus gains traction in less vaccinated communities.

It is not yet clear how widespread it is near Chicago, but small samples have shown cases doubling every one or two weeks, officials said.

“If your community has an immunization rate of less than 50%, you are more likely to have the Delta variant coming to your community,” Rocha said.

Statewide, 288 Delta cases have been confirmed, but only a small fraction of positive cases are analyzed to determine if they are dangerous variants.

Experts say a slight increase in cases in less vaccinated areas – particularly in the upstate – is one reason Illinois’ case positivity rate has tripled over the past three years. last few weeks to reach 1.9%, which is still very low compared to the worst days of the pandemic.

But infection rates are increasing across the board. Chicago’s positivity rate doubled this month to 1.2%, as the state reported 861 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday – the most in a day since late May.

“Illinois has by no means a huge increase,” said Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady. “But when you start to go up there, the risk changes from a moderate risk to a higher risk for unvaccinated people.”

Free home vaccination appointments are available to all Chicago residents by calling (312) 746-4835.

For help getting a photo in suburban Cook County, visit cookcountypublichealth.org or call (833) 308-1988. To find other Illinois suppliers, visit coronavirus.illinois.gov or call (833) 621-1284.