CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A South Side pastor who’s in line to get the COVID-19 vaccine wants to give his spot to a Chicago Public Schools teacher.
Rev. William Hall of St. James Community Church in Chatham said Sunday that he’s in good health and as someone who also works in a social service agency, he’s slated to get vaccinated in the next couple of weeks.
"By the grace of God, I have no preconditions. I am considered in the medical field, someone who can turn around real quick if I were to come in contact COVID," Hall said during his press conference about his his request.
So he’s asking Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot if he can give his shot to a teacher, saying it’s not about politics but compassion and love.
"There are a host of teachers that are going to school day-to-day with fear and a host of teachers, essentially, who are willing to take the vaccine," Hall said. "We want to show what it means to make accessible something for a Black or brown teacher that is teaching, especially, in some of the worst neighborhoods in the city Chicago."
Related
The pastor pointed out that children are often carriers of the novel coronavirus and that the Black and brown communities across the country have been hit hardest by the virus, often having limited access to quality healthcare.
His offer comes the day before the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday and after several contentious days between CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union.
CPS withheld pay for teachers who didn’t show up to classrooms last week after more students returned Monday. The teachers cited fears about contacting the coronavirus as reasons why they didn’t show up.
CTU said since the first teachers were required to return to in-person learning on Jan. 4, it has learned of 50 positive COVID-19 cases in schools.
CPS declined WBBM’s request for comment for this story.
The mayor's office didn’t definitively state whether it would approve Hall’s request but sent WBBM a statement from the Chicago Department of Public Health.
“Based on national guidance, teachers and other frontline essential workers will receive vaccine in Phase 1B. CDPH encourages everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when it's their turn. Supplies will increase over time, and it is anticipated all adults should be able to get vaccinated later in 2021," according to the statement.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that Phase 1B will begin on Jan. 25 across the entire state, which will predominantly serve those 65 and older. Education workers such as teachers and support staff and childcare workers will also be included in this group.