Chicago Department of Public Health Weekly Media Brief, 12/14/2023

December 14, 2023

CDPH Public Information     media.cdph@cityofchicago.org

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Free Vaccine Clinic and Respiratory Virus Update

Respiratory virus season is in full swing this winter, with incidence and hospital encounters for COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus all on the rise. Just in time for the holidays, CDPH and Farragut Career Academy are hosting a FREE COVID and Flu Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, December 20, from 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at 2345 S Christiana Ave. All adults and children ages 6 months and above are eligible to receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. CDPH Medical Director Dr. Geraldine Luna as well as representatives from Chicago's 22nd, 24th, and 25th Wards will be there. Visit the Chicago vaccine event calendar to register.

While updated COVID-19 vaccines have been available since mid-September, vaccination uptake still remains low in Chicago. Just 11.3% of residents have received the vaccine. The rates are considerably loser among Black (6.4%) and Latinx (5.8%) residents and children. The COVID-19 hospital admission rate for Cook County increased 13% in the last week, while the U.S. saw a 17.6% increase over the same time period. The COVID-19 risk level for Cook County is currently classified as Low. Explore vaccination data on the CDPH website.

Public Plan for Community Safety

Mayor Brandon Johnson was joined by CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo Ige, M.D., MPH, and many other city and community leaders on Wednesday as the City’s Office of Community Safety announced a new, community-led initiative – The People’s Plan for Community Safety – that brings together government, community organizations, philanthropy, youth leaders, faith organizations, researchers and businesses to address historic disinvestment. You can read about the plan here and watch a replay of the announcement here.

Medicaid Renewals Roll On

More than 11,900 Medicaid enrollees in Illinois have been disenrolled over the past six months based on the most current data from Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The good news, so far, is that Illinois currently has the highest Medicaid renewal rate across all States; 90% of Illinoisans have renewed coverage per KFF data.

Across all states with available data, 75% of all people disenrolled had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons. This means that people are losing coverage because of barriers in completing the renewal process, including the State having outdated contact information, an incorrect address, or language barriers.

How to update personal information:

  1. Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov.
  2. Verify your address under “Contact Us.”
  3. Find your renewal due date under “Benefit Details.”
  4. Watch your mail and complete your renewal right away.

    New Healthy Chicago Podcast

    Healthy Chicago Podcast: How To Keep Your Medicaid Coverage

    In the newest episode of the Healthy Chicago podcast, Joy Macatangay, Public Health Administrator at CDPH, joined Dr. Brian Borah to talk about the important steps Medicaid members need to take to renew their coverage, while Mervin Dino, Assistant Commissioner of the Community Health Bureau at CDPH, sat down with Dr. Geraldine Luna to discuss available local Medicaid resources for Latinx communities.

    Listen to the episode on Medicaid Redetermination: What Is It? Could It Affect Me? at chicago.gov/healthychicagopodcast and on all platforms:

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