Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Coming to CPS Schools Over Next 3 Weekends

(WTTW News)(WTTW News)

City health officials have announced partnerships with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union to bring mobile vaccination sites to more than a dozen district schools over the next three weeks.

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The Chicago Department of Public Health on Thursday announced it will bring converted CTA buses to 15 CPS elementary and high schools to provide COVID-19 vaccines to teens over the next three Saturdays.

“All children 12 and above are now eligible for vaccination, and we want everyone to get vaccinated so we can enjoy a safe and fun summer,” CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said in a statement. “Kids and adults who are not vaccinated are still at risk from COVID, which continues to circulate the most in our communities with the lowest vaccination rates. We need to get everyone vaccinated to put COVID behind us.”

Workers will provide vaccines to interested teens and their families from 10 a.m. to noon on each of the following dates:

—May 15: Chicago Vocational Career Academy, Juarez High School, Marshall High School, Nash Elementary, and Westinghouse College Prep (the bus will return for second doses on June 5).

—May 22: Bouchet Math and Science Academy, Brunson Math & Science Elementary, Ray Elementary, Simeon High School, and Southside High School (second doses on June 12).

—May 29: Carver Primary School, Englewood STEM, Fenger High School, and King College Prep (second doses on June 19).

CPS and CTU workers will engage with students and their families about the events and assist volunteers with on-site registration. Students do not need to attend any particular school in order to be vaccinated, and other community residents are also invited to receive vaccines at the events.

All COVID-19 vaccines will be available at no cost and with no insurance or ID required, officials said. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The bus will offer the two-dose Pfizer vaccine to students; anyone age 12 and above is eligible, officials said. Parents and guardians accompanying children — anyone 18 and older — can choose to receive either Pfizer or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“CPS is committed to helping students and families in all parts of Chicago access the COVID-19 vaccine in their own communities, building on our effort to help vaccinate thousands of CPS staff members,” CPS CEO Janice Jackson said in a statement. “With partnerships like this to improve equitable access to the vaccine, we are moving closer to a return to normalcy and daily in-person instruction for all students in the fall.”

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson[email protected] | (773) 509-5431


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