It’s where they’re most comfortable, several community leaders said. For many Chinatown residents who speak only Chinese, their neighborhood is their world. ![]() Mah adds that many Chinatown residents have low literacy even in Chinese. “A lot of people just don’t have the English skills to navigate, and some people don’t have the technology skills to figure things out,” said David Wu, executive director of the Pui Tak Center, a staple in the heart of Chinatown. Many Chinatown residents, particularly the elderly, face language and technology barriers in getting access to the vaccine. Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville has been the go-to for many Chinatown residents over the years, and that hospital is on life support as it goes between owners. Mah describes the neighborhood as a health care desert, with fewer places to get medical care than in other parts of the city. The Chicago Department of Public Health did not provide comment for this story. “Chinatown has fallen through the cracks,” said Illinois Rep. They say to see how vulnerable their neighborhood is, look beyond the metrics. Many people in Chinatown have been frustrated by the lack of vaccine access in their community. Where doses are shipped isn’t necessarily where people get their shots. That’s compared to at least 79,000 doses in 60611, where tony Streeterville is located and home to prominent Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and at least 37,000 in Gage Park on the Southwest Side. The entire 60616 ZIP code, which includes Chinatown, received just over 4,000 doses during the first three months of the vaccine rollout ending in mid-March, according to a WBEZ analysis of vaccine distribution data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The Chicago Department of Public Health has concentrated vaccination efforts in several of these communities. West Englewood, New City, Gage Park and North Lawndale are among two dozen communities labeled “high” on the vulnerability index. The broader Armour Square community, which includes Chinatown, is considered “low” on the city’s so-called COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index.īlack and Latino Chicagoans have been disproportionately affected by the virus. They take into account how many people have gotten sick or died from the coronavirus, how many senior citizens live there and how many people can’t work from home.įrom the city’s metrics, Chinatown isn’t as vulnerable as other parts of Chicago. “Chinatown has fallen through the cracks”Ĭhicago public health officials use a variety of metrics to determine how vulnerable each community in the city is to COVID-19, and that helps guide them on where to send coveted vaccines. They would open vaccination sites themselves. 4 p.m.With worries that the neighborhood would be left behind in the race toward immunity, community leaders forged a plan. Prism Health Lab testing sites are open from 9 a.m. Insurance is not required and there is no copay or deductible. ![]() Prism Health Lab’s testing sites offer a wide range of services & support, and can accommodate patients who speak English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. ![]() “We have faith that grassroots initiatives like ours will be recognized, and as we transition into the Biden Administration, we hope our voices - the voices of Chicago’s communities - will be heard when executing the vaccine roll-out.” “We are happy to be here with members of this diverse community because we’re dedicated to getting everyone one step closer to life before COVID-19,” said Zul Kapadia, CEO & President of Prism Health Lab. “Making testing more widely available is part of what we can do to help people protect themselves and, ultimately, our communities.” “Our immigrant communities, particularly our Spanish-speaking and Chinese immigrant community, are disproportionately suffering from COVID-19,” Mah said. “The goal of having these locations is to do everything we can to eliminate the barriers to our health care for our Chinese and Latinx community, particularly our immigrant community,” Sigcho-Lopez said. Prism Health Lab's 6th site, located at the Chicago Public Library in Chinatown at 2100 S Wentworth Ave, is permanent. Byron Sigcho (25th) to bring permanent testing sites to communities that need them the most. The locations, which offer no-cost testing and are open to all, are part of a joint effort with State Rep. Chicago IL: Prism Health Lab has developed its sixth COVID-19 testing location in order to provide Chicagoland’s various communities with access to safe, easily accessible, and affordable testing options.
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