(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The head of a social service agency says the deal Chicago teachers got this week for priority COVID vaccinations further delays when his employees can be immunized.
Peter Beale-DelVecchio, the CEO of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, said his 100 or so teachers and other staffers have been working face-to-face with children on the West and North Sides since June, when Gov. Pritzker first allowed it.
"In-person, on the front line, day-in and day-out,” he says of the employees, who are considered essential workers.
His people are being short-changed because the Chicago Public School teachers' deal with Chicago Public Schools will give them special CPS staff-only vaccination events in the coming weeks.
"In effect, with this set-aside, it puts our teachers somewhat behind CTU in line because we don’t have our own specific event for community-based organizations,” Beale-DelVecchio said Thursday.
Like CPS teachers, Beale-DelVecchio says his employees are in the Phase 1B vaccination category, but it’s nearly impossible to get an appointment.
“It's really difficult to get an appointment, whether it’s through Walgreen’s or Mariano’s or Jewel. Even your own doctor,” he said.
Beale-DelVecchio says, thankfully, there have been only a handful of students and some teachers who have contracted COVID-19 while teaching or learning in-person.
His two facilities are limited to serving about 100 children each every day, with safeguards in place.
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