![]() ![]() Allison Arwady prepares to give Mayor Lori Lightfoot her second COVID-19 vaccine in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood on Feb. “That’s actually the biggest breach here,” but it’s also concerning the hospital prioritized vaccines for people “who were well-connected, really letting them jump the line.” Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago Dr. “The biggest concern here is that they was vaccinating people, first and foremost, who were not eligible for the phase,” Arwady said Friday. Hospital spokespeople have twice said this week the improper vaccinations occurred because Loretto officials were confused about who was eligible to be vaccinated, despite that information being publicly available through the city’s health department.Ī spokeswoman for Loretto did not answer a question about if the hospital has a trend of vaccinating organizations close to its executives, like the church and workers at Trump Tower. The first event was held in early February, soon after after eligibility expanded to people 65 and older and when demand for doses was sky-high in the city. Shots were also administered to more than 200 members of the suburban church attended by Miller, who is longtime friends with the church’s leader, according to videos and documents obtained by Block Club. Ineligible Cook County judges were also offered shots at Loretto, according to a WBEZ report. ![]() ![]() That came after Block Club reported on ineligible workers getting shots at Trump Tower, where multiple hospital leaders live. Vaccine doses aren’t being sent to Loretto as city officials investigate whether the hospital has been properly vaccinating people and reporting shots. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago George Miller, President & Chief Executive Officer at Loretto Hospital, speaks at a news conference at the Gage Park Vaccination Site on Feb. Kimberly Lightford, another board member, hung up on a Block Club reporter who contacted her to ask about the reprimand. LaShawn Ford, who sits on Loretto’s board and represents the area in the state Legislature, said in a statement. The hospital’s board has taken “appropriate actions of reprimand against Miller and Ahmed for their role in the mistakes of judgment,” Rep. The accusations against the hospital are particularly “unacceptable” because Loretto is in Austin, a Protect Chicago Plus neighborhood that has been hit hard by COVID-19 and where the city has been trying to boost vaccinations, Arwady said. Allison Arwady, chief of the city’s health department, said officials are investigating events where the hospital vaccinated ineligible people and gave shots outside of the West Side community.Īrwady expressed serious concerns about Loretto’s vaccination program during a Friday call with reporters, saying the hospital has lost community trust and officials don’t feel comfortable sending precious vaccine doses there for the time being. Anosh Ahmed - but the hospital already has had its supply of coronavirus vaccine doses cut off by the city. CHICAGO - Loretto Hospital’s board said it has reprimanded two of its chief executives the same day Chicago’s health chief said the hospital let “well-connected” people jump the vaccination line.īoard members would not say what punishments will be doled out to Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller and COO Dr.
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