In the News

Chicago Public Radio, October 30,2009

Suburban Cook County just got an influx of pandemic flu vaccine, but their supply still lags behind Chicago’s.

Cook County suburbs got about 50,000 doses of swine flu vaccine yesterday. Public health workers are taking appointments for high-priority patients. Before yesterday’s infusion, the county had received just 20,000 doses, compared with 150,000 for the city of Chicago.

With the new shipment, suburban Cook has still only gotten about a tenth of the doses the state gave out – even though it has nearly a fourth of the state’s population, outside Chicago. State Senator Susan Garrett says that’s a problem.

GARRETT: That’s something that deeply concerns me because the Illinois Department of Public Health absolutely should have a policy in place where there are decision being made based on fairness. And especially being made based on the need of children.

A state Department of Public Health spokeswoman didn’t offer an explanation, except to say factors besides population can affect a region’s share. She says much more vaccine is on the way.