CDPH Announces Updates on Vaccination for Residents Experiencing Homelessness

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) joined leaders from Pacific Garden Mission, Lawndale Christian Health Center, and Heartland Alliance Health to administer COVID-19 vaccines to 170 Pacific Garden Mission staff and residents experiencing homelessness. Through ongoing relationships with shelters and community health providers, more than 2,000 initial doses of vaccine have so far been administered to staff and guests across Chicago’s homeless shelter system.

DFSS, in partnership with All Chicago and the Chicago Continuum of Care (CoC), piloted an Expedited Housing Initiative (EHI) this past April in response to COVID-19. Clients in congregate homeless shelter settings who were considered high risk of COVID-19 complications due to older age or health, were placed in separate hotel rooms as a safety precaution and then linked to permanent housing. Lawndale Christian Health Center and Heartland Alliance Health have longstanding relationships with shelters, and account for most of the health care provided to residents experiencing homelessness in Chicago. These trusted relationships helped to quickly establish a COVID-19 vaccination program, with vaccine doses committed by the City, to efficiently vaccinate shelter residents and overcome any hesitancy to vaccination. Total numbers of vaccines given to persons experiencing homelessness or the staff who serve them in Chicago, through 2-18-21

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