WEST CHICAGO – To combat the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable communities, State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) announced over 2,000 West Chicago residents and employees will get vaccinated this Friday, Feb. 12. This achievement is a collaborative community effort with State Representative Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia), the West Chicago Jewel Osco, Superintendents Moses Cheng and Kristina Davis-Salazar, and other local elected officials. 

“The vaccine is our best defense against the spread of COVID-19, and every Illinois resident must have to that protection,” Villa said. “With such a short expiration date on the vaccine, we have to think fast to make sure not a single dose is wasted.”

Registration was open to the teachers of School Districts 25, 33, 94, and residents age 65 and older. Over 2,000 available time slots were filled in less than 24 hours.

Minority communities have been hit harder by the pandemic in Illinois and nationwide.  Latinos are over four times as likely to be hospitalized and nearly three times as likely to die from COVID-19 when compared to white Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Despite this disproportionate impact, vaccination rates are lagging among communities of color, particularly Black and Latino communities.

Villa asks residents who weren’t able to register for a vaccination this Friday to stay tuned for more available appointments.

“I’m glad to see the vaccination effort ramping up in our area, but the work isn’t done,” Villa said. “I plan to continue working with community partners to ensure no resident is forgotten in the state’s vaccine distribution plan.”