Cook County tries to close vax gap
Dixmoor among 10 least-vaccinated local communities
When south suburban Dixmoor faced a water crisis in recent weeks, public officials handed out more than bottled water at village hall; they offered COVID-19 vaccinations.
Six months after shots became widely available to those 16 and older, Dixmoor is among the least-vaccinated communities in Cook County, with barely half of all residents having gotten at least one shot, according to Cook County figures. The state average is roughly two-thirds of residents.
Cook County Department of Public Health officials on Tuesday cited the Dixmoor pop-up clinic as one of the ways they’re trying to think creatively in how they push vaccine into communities with low uptake.
“We know from the days of high demand being over, that this will require intensive and sustained effort,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, senior medical officer and a department co-leader. “But we are committed to staying the course and being relentless in ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be vaccinated.”
They say they can more precisely pinpoint the need now, after using a computerized process to better link addresses of those vaccinated to municipalities in which they live, while also adjusting the populations of those towns to reflect the latest census.
Dixmoor is among the 10 lowest-vaccinated communities, with 52% of residents getting at least one shot. The lowest five were Riverdale (46%), Ford Heights (43%), Sauk Village (41%) and Burnham (35%) — although measuring vaccinations can be trickier in communities closer to the state line, because some residents may have traveled out-of-state for a shot that isn’t recorded in Illinois data.
Compare that with suburbs with the highest vaccination rates, all above 80%, and all but one a north suburb: Barrington, Glencoe, Glenview, Northbrook, Olympia Fields and Wilmette. (This may not count communities with their own health departments, which aren’t covered by the county’s.)
The gap has existed since the earliest days of mass vaccination. A mid-May Tribune review of Cook County data found the south suburbs lagging other regions of the county, and a July WBEZ report showed the highest vaccinated communities by then were majority white and affluent, with the least vaccinated majority Black and low-income.
Early on, the county targeted 32 communities it deemed most vulnerable to COVID-19, based on socioeconomic factors, barriers to medical care and the prevalence of chronic conditions. It set a goal of 80% of residents in each community getting at least one shot.
The county has seen some success in those communities, but none have reached 80%. At best, of those 32, are the west suburbs of Berkeley, Northlake and Melrose Park, and the southwest suburb Hodgkins, topping 70% so far.
Dr. Rachel Rubin, also a senior medical officer and a department co-leader, said 70% is the new goal, for now, for each suburb.
She said the new analysis will help the agency better focus on communities to target. Less than half of the 119 suburbs under the department’s jurisdiction have met that benchmark, but the department in particular plans to focus on the 18 lowest, with rates near 50% or less.
Joshi said that extra effort would again target those hesitant or unable to easily get shots, working with groups in communities to act as “trusted messengers” to do outreach and engagement, including helping host vaccination clinics, making phone calls, texting and going door-to-door to talk with unvaccinated residents.
The department as well will try to host its own clinics in strategic places.
And that’s what brought the health department to the village hall for Dixmoor, one of those original 32 targeted for extra efforts.
Residents had to go a week without water after a main water pipe busted. It closed businesses and schools, and sent residents to village hall to get bottled water.
Joshi said the department quickly began a small pop-up clinic at the village hall, hoping to catch residents. The county couldn’t immediately say the number of residents vaccinated at that clinic, but officials hope extra efforts like that will make the difference in reaching people.
“We’ve tried to be very nimble and agile when it comes to this,” Joshi said.