Two Family Vaccine Clinics This Weekend

CDPH will host two family vaccine clinics this weekend, where all residents age 6 months and up can receive 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots.

The clinics are both Saturday, November 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first is at Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave. The second is at Harry Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave. WVON's Matt McGill will be broadcasting live from Olive Harvey from 1-3 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is highly recommended. Visit the CDPH website to register.

Vaccines are offered no-cost to all residents, regardless of insurance or immigration status. For more information on locations and times, visit Chicago.gov/COVIDVax or call our helpline at 312-746-4835.

Pilsen South Ashland Ribbon Cutting

The ribbon cutting ceremony for CDPH's Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub is Wednesday, November 20, at 11 a.m. The Health Hub officially opened to Pilsen residents on Monday, October 28.

24th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 33rd Ward Alderman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and CDPH First Deputy Commissioner Fikirte Wagaw will attend the ceremony, along with other City officials.

The Health Hub offers no-cost mental health services for adults and youth, and no-cost vaccinations for uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, or CHIP-insured children aged 0-18, as well as free flu and COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured or underinsured adults. The Hub will also refer Pilsen residents who need Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services and sexually transmitted infections (STI) services to community health partners who provide those services.

Visit the Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub website for more information.

Overdose Cluster Associated with Nitazenes

On October 29, at least 7 patients were hospitalized with opioid-related overdoses in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. Preliminary test results on 4 out of 5 drug samples found fentanyl, the fentanyl precursor 4-ANPP, diphenhydramine, BTMPS, and in trace quantities: nitazenes, clonazalam, quinine and medetomidine. This is the first time the adulterant BTMPS was detected in Chicago's illegal drug supply. Nitazenes are synthetic opioids that can be up to 25 times more potent than fentanyl.

In response, CDPH sent a health alert to local providers, and continues to advise Chicagoans to carry naloxone (Narcan), and nitazene test strips for anyone at risk of an overdose. Nitazene test strips can be requested by emailing osu.cdph@cityofchicago.org.

CDPH continues to promote medication-assisted recovery (MAR) treatment for opioid use disorder. MAR treatment can be initiated right away by contacting the MAR NOW program through the Illinois Helpline. Call 833-234-6343 or text "HELP" to 833234.

Transgender Awareness Week

This Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13-19), we honor the history, resilience, and many contributions of transgender Americans. Despite significant strides, transgender individuals still face high levels of discrimination and violence, particularly against transgender women of color. This is a time for us to recognize their strength and resilience, while also celebrating the joy, hope, and unique cultural contributions of transgender and non-binary individuals across all areas of society.

Trans Day of Remembrance and Resilience is November 20, a day to honor transgender lives lost to violence and to advocate for a future free from transphobia and hate. Human Rights Campaign reports 27 transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people murdered in 2024 alone. At least 15 transgender and gender-nonconforming people – all of them Black or Latinx – have been slain in Chicago since 2016, according to data compiled by the Chicago Sun-Times.

This violence underscores the urgent need for greater understanding, support, and policy change to protect transgender lives.

Join CDPH and Life is Work on Nov. 20, from 1-3 p.m., as we co-sponsor "A Day of Resilience - Honoring Lives…Celebrating Legacies" at 1039-1043 E 43rd St., Room 43. Together, we remember those lost, uplift transgender experiences, and commit to a world where every trans and non-binary person can thrive. For more details, please contact mfoster@lifeiswork.org.

Healthy Chicago Podcast

In the newest episode of the Spanish-Language Healthy Chicago podcast, Whitney Bellido, Public Health Nurse II with the CDPH Immunizations Program, joins Dr. Geraldine Luna to discuss why it's essential for our community to stay current with both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

The discussion also sheds light on how between 2019 and 2022, COVID-19 played a significant role in the decline of life expectancy among Chicago's Latino population and what CDPH is doing to address this by providing the vaccine to all residents.

Tune in to the newest episodes of Healthy Chicago on the CDPH website and all major platforms:

YouTube / Spotify / Apple

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