[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> I HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND VISION TO LEAD THIS PARTY INTO THE FUTURE.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY ON REPLACING MICHAEL MADIGAN AS THE HEAD OF THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THREATS AGAINST THE U.S. CAPITOL.

>> WHAT YOU TOLD ME NEVER INFORMED OF ANYTHING.

>> TRASH TALK RESIDENTS IN WEST CHICAGO SQUARE OFF AGAINST A POTENTIAL WASTE FACILITY OUR LATEST STOP OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> THIS COUNTRY WILL HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE SUPPLY FOR EVERY ADULT IN AMERICA BY THE END OF MAY.

>> AND VACCINES COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL BUT WILL EVERYBODY GET THEIR SHOT?

FIRST SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

APPOINTMENTS FOR VACCINATIONS AT THE UNITED CENTER OPENED UP TODAY.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY 30,000 OF THE 110,000 AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN FILLED AS OF LATE THIS AFTERNOON AFTER THE WEBSITE AND PHONE LINE WENT DOWN THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF A RUSH OF DEMAND.

BOTH WERE BACKUP AND RUNNING AFTER HALF AN HOUR.

VACCINATIONS FOR ANY ILLINOIS RESIDENT OVER 65 WILL START WEDNESDAY AND MUCH MORE HOW MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE TRYING TO ERASE THE STIGMA OF VACCINATION ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT 1700 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 IN ILLINOIS AND 42 ADDITIONAL DEATHS FOR A TOTAL OF 1.2 MILLION CASES.

AND 26,068 DEATHS.

THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IS 2.9%.

THE SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHATHAM GETS A BOOST TODAY.

DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES IS PLANNING A CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AT AN ABANDONED TARGET STORE ON 86 AND COT GAGE GROVE.

CITY OFFICIALS WERE ON HAND AND IT WILL LEAD TO A THOUSAND FULL-TIME JOBS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH HOURLY WAGES OF $17 AND HIGHER.

>> I KNOW YOU COULD HAVE MADE THIS INVESTMENT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT YOU WANTED IN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL.

BUT YOU HAVE CHOSE ESPECIALLY TO BUILD YOUR STAKE HERE IN CHICAGO IN CHATHAM AND SET AN EXAMPLE WHAT REAL CIVIC LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS HAS A NEW LEADER.

IN A NAIL-BITING ELECTION, CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY NARROWLY BEAT OUT MICHELLE HARRIS TO BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD THE PARTY STATE-WIDE AND SHE REPLACES MICHAEL MADIGAN WHO RESIGNED LAST MONTH.

THIS AS CONGRESS DEBATES THE LATEST COVID STIMULUS PACKAGE AND THE U.S. CAPITOL IS ON LOCKDOWN AFTER RENEWED THREATS OF RIGHT-WING VIOLENCE AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE U.S. CAPITOL IS ON LOCKDOWN TODAY BECAUSE OF MORE POPE TERRORIST THREATS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT THE SITUATION?

>> I REALLY HAVEN'T HEARD THAT MUCH.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET OUT TODAY.

BUT WE ENDED EVERYTHING YESTERDAY.

THE VOTES THAT WE HAD PLANNED ON SO THAT PEOPLE COULD EITHER LEAVE LAST NIGHT OR LIKE MYSELF, I LEFT AT 6:30 THIS MORNING.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

>> MOVING TO THE STATE, YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE HEAD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS.

BRIEFLY TELL VIEWERS WHAT THAT JOB IS.

>> WELL, WE ARE THERE'S 36 OF US.

EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS TWO PEOPLE REPRESENTATIVING IT ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.

AND ACTUALLY THERE'S COMMITTEE MEN ON EVERY LEVEL AND WE ARE THE COMMITTEE PEOPLE FOR THE STATE.

SO WE WORK TO KEEP THE STATE, OF COURSE, FOR US, BLUE, TO GET MORE VOTERS.

TO EDUCATE VOTERS TO WORK ON GROUND ORGANIZING OR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TO ASSIGN WHO WILL BE DELEGATES AT CONVENTIONS.

>> AND YOU ARE REPLACING HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

YOU PROMISED TO BRING GREATER TRANSPARENCY.

WHAT ARE SPECIFIC WAYS YOU WILL LEAD THE PARTY DIFFERENTLY THAN MADIGAN DID?

>> WELL, A COUPLE THINGS.

SOME THINGS ARE SIMPLE.

WE WILL MEET MORE.

WE WILL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER MORE AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEFORE.

I PLAN ON CREATING COMMITTEES.

LIKE PROGRAM COMMITTEE, RECRUITING COMMITTEES, FINANCIAL COMMITTEE.

JUST DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT TO HELP US REACH BACK INTO OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

I WANT TO DO SOMETHING WHERE I'M UPLIFTING THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE LOCAL COUNTY CHAIRS AND HOPEFULLY I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE GRANTS SO THEY COULD DO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN DO.

WE ARE LOOKING AT REDOING THE BYLAWS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING EXTRA EFFORTS TOWARDS SOME GROUPS FOR RECRUITMENT LIKE THE LATINX COMMUNITY AND THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT PEOPLE DEEM RED.

>> AT THAT ELECTION IT WAS TENSE.

SOME DEMOCRATS RAISED CONCERNS THAT FEDERAL LAW WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM RAISING MONEY IN STATE AND LOCAL RACES BECAUSE YOU ARE A FEDERAL POLITICIAN.

LET'S HEAR FROM FORMER ILLINOIS SENATE PRESIDENT CULLERTON SAID.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THE STATE CHAIRMAN DOES IS RAISE MONEY.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO.

TO BE A CHAIRMAN AND NOT BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY IS A LIMITATION.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

WILL YOU BE LIMITED IN YOUR ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY?

>> I WILL BE LIMITED IN MY ABILITY TO RAISE SOME OF THE STATE MONEY BUT I CAN RAISE THE FEDERAL MONEY.

AS I SHARED LAST NIGHT, LAST CONGRESS I RAISED $3 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY THAT I HELPED WITH YOU KNOW ELECTING MORE WOMEN THAN I RAISED MY OWN MONEY AND HAD TO PAY DUES.

I MIGHT BE LIMITED WE'LL SETUP GUARDRAILS BUT IT IS NOT AN OBSTACLE ME BEING THE CHAIR.

WE CONTINUED TO SAY THAT EVERYBODY WILL GET INVOLVED.

>> OTHER FOLKS WILL HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

AND GOVERNOR PRITZKER MADE NO BONES ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE SUPPORTED ALDER WOMAN HARRIS FOR THIS WOMAN.

PRITZKER THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE STATE HELD BY A DEMOCRAT, BUT THE MAIN FUNDER OF THE PARTY AT THIS POINT.

WILL YOU TWO HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT AT ALL.

I MEAN WE WANT HIM TO BE REELECTED I WILL DO MY PART TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

I MEAN, HE HAD HIS PERSON THAT HE WANTED WHICH IS FINE THAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC WAY.

BUT THE RACE IS OVER AND NOW WE PULL TOGETHER.

>> MOVE BACK TO CONGRESS FOR A SECOND.

THE 1.9 TRILLION COVID STIMULUS BILL IN MOVING THROUGH THE SENATE RIGHT NOW DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WILL PASS THE SENATE AND COMPLETE THIS RECONCILIATION PROCESS ONCE AND FOR WALL?

>> I DO BELIEVE IT WILL PASS THE SENATE.

PEOPLE ARE HURTING.

THERE ARE THINGS GOING TO EXPIRE.

PEOPLE NEED THE MONEY.

SMALL BUSINESSES NEED HELP.

PEOPLE NEED THEIR VACCINE DOSES AND SCHOOLS NEED TO REOPEN.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE BILL WILL PASS.

>> AND ALSO THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE PASSED A SWEEPING VOTING RIGHTS BILL AS SEVERAL STATES LIKE GEORGIA AND ARIZONA, HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION OR MOVED LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT VOTING.

WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL BILL DO?

>> HR1 IS THAT THE ONE?

>> YES.

>> I'M NOT 100% SURE ON THE TITLE OF IT.

>> THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

>> I BELIEVE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HR1.

IT DOES A FEW THINGS.

IT TAKES DARK MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.

IT DEALS WITH VOTING RIGHTS ARE NOT ALLOWING THE VOTES TO BE SUPPRESSED LOOKING AT LIKE ID AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND NOW MY MIND IS SKIPPING ON OTHER THING I WAS GETTING READY TO SAY ABOUT IT.

HR1 AND A COMPANION HR4 WHICH WE'RE CALLING THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

BUT IT'S ALL TO PREVENT STATES FROM PUTTING IN ALL OF THEIR MOVES AND MEASURES TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM VOTING AND SINCE NOVEMBER FIFTH SO MANY STATES TRIED TO A LOT OF STATES PUT IN A LOT OF MEASURES TO RESTRICT PEOPLE.

SO THIS WARDS OFF THAT.

>> GETTING BACK TO POLITICS, CONGRESSWOMAN ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS COMING UP SOON IS REDRAWING THE LEGISLATIVE MAPS.

SOME SAY IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE HANDS OF POLITICIANS.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO APPROACH REDISTRICTING?

>> THAT IS THE OTHER THING THE BILL DEALT WITH.

ABOUT HAVING INDEPENDENT PEOPLE DRAW THE MAPS.

YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH THAT.

MY ONLY ISSUE IS MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES THAT COME FROM LIKE ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI WHERE THEY ARE THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE STATE AND THEY WORRY ABOUT AND THIS INSTANCE WHO IS PICKING THE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE?

AND THEY FEEL LIKE IN THEIR STATES THE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE WILL BE REPUBLICAN.

SO THEY ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

I VOTED FOR THE BILL.

BECAUSE ALL ALSO FEEL LIKE AFRICAN-AMERICAN JAMMING JAMMING AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN ONE DISTRICT, I'M NOT FOR THAT EITHER.

MANY OF -- >> I'M SORRY.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

A LOT OF ISSUES TO IRON OUT.

THANK YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE ROBIN KELLY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND UP NEXT THE LATEST STOP FOR OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES.

>> IN DUPAGE COUNTY, THE COVID RATES IS 2 TIMES HIGHER FOR OTHER LATINOS.

NEAR THE TOP OF THAT LIST IS WEST CHICAGO A COMMUNITY WHERE HALF THE RESIDENTS ARE LATINO.

AMANDA VINICKY IS THERE NOW FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AMANDA?

>> PARIS I'M HOPING YOU CAN SEE OVER MY SHOULDER WAS ONCE TURNER JUNCTION ESTABLISHED WHERE EARLY RAILROAD ROUTES CONVERGED.

THE MAYOR RUBEN PINEDA SAYS LIVESTOCK WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHICAGO'S OLD STOCKYARDS.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE NATURAL PRAIRIES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND ONE OF THE LARGEST IN IN THE INDUSTRY.

IT HAS NATIVE PLANTS FROM ILLINOIS.

IT WENT FROM A STOCKYARD TO ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIES THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

>> THAT TRANSFORMED BUT TRAIN IT IS RUN THROUGH TOWN HOPING WE'RE GOING TO SKIP FOR THIS SEGMENT.

NORMALLY IN JULY THE CITY CELEBRATES THAT WITH THE RAILROAD DAYS.

JUST DAYS AGO, WEST CHICAGO CANCELED THAT FESTIVAL ALSO THE SPRING'S BLOOMING FEST BECAUSE OF COVID.

SPEAKING OF BLOOMING FEST WEST CHICAGO HAS AN ACTIVE BLOOMING GARDEN CLUB AND THE COMMUNITY IS PART OF AN AEFFORT TO SAVE POLLINATORS.

BUTTERFLY MONARCHS THERE IS A SPECIAL CONNECTION.

>> A LOT OF OUR POPULATION HERE IS FROM WHERE THE BUTLER FLY MIGRATES TO EVERY YEAR.

>> BUTTERFLY MIGRATES TO EVERY YEAR.

>> AS FOR COVID WEST CHICAGO WAS HIT HARD WITH NEARLY 4,000 CASES.

THE MAYOR SAYS IT WAS NOT UNTIL RECENTLY THAT THE POSITIVITY RATE DROPPED BELOW 10% BUT HE IS WORKING TO TURN THAT AROUND.

YESTERDAY WEST CHICAGO HOSTED A MASS VACCINATION CLINIC AND 2,000 RESIDENTS GOT THEIR FIRST SHOT.

LOCAL SENATOR KARINA VILLA SAYS THE REASON FOR THAT HIGH CASE LOAD OF COVID IS BECAUSE RESIDENTS ARE THE WORKFORCE FOR MANY LOCAL MANUFACTURERS AND WAREHOUSE FACILITIES.

>> MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THOSE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES COME RIGHT HERE FROM TOWN.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY IN THAT WAY.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE FACTORIES WERE BAD ACTORS THEY DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

>> SHE DID NOT CALL OUT ANY SPECIFIC BAD ACTORS.

SO NOT SAYING THESE ARE THEM BUT SOME OF THE BIG BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND WEST CHICAGO, THE FLAVOR ICED POPSICLES THEY ARE FROM WEST CHICAGO AND THE HORTICULTURAL COMPANY SHIPS SEEDS FROM WEST CHICAGO.

THE MAYOR SAYS AFTER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GOT TOGETHER WITH A PACKAGE, A TECH PART IS NOW BURSTING.

LAKE SHORE RECYCLING SYSTEMS HAS A FACILITY HERE IN THE INDUSTRIAL PART OF THE CITY BUT THERE IS TALK OF AN EXPANSION.

THAT LRS PLANS TO BUILD A WASTE TRANSFER STATION.

THE COMPANY IS SAYING ONLY WE HAVE NOTHING TO DISCUSS AT THIS TIME REGARDING OUR WEST CHICAGO FACILITY AS WE HAVE NOT YET FILED AN APPLICATION AND HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO DO SO.

BUT A WELL ORGANIZED GROUP OF OPPONENTS ARE ALREADY FIGHTING IT.

AMONG THEM, LONG TIME RESIDENT AND REALTOR CONCERNED THAT IT WILL DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES AND SCARE OFF WOULD BE HOME BUYERS.

>> PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE IN THEY CHECK EVERYTHING, THE SCHOOLS, WHAT IS IN WEST CHICAGO AND LOOKING AT A GARBAGE TRANSFER STATION WILL MAKE AN IMPACT NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO MOVE INTO WEST CHICAGO.

>> EDUARDO LOPEZ SAYS HE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE ODOR THERE IS ANOTHER WASTE TRANSFER STATION ALREADY IN WEST CHICAGO AND LOPEZ SAYS IT SMELLS.

>> LOPEZ ASKS WHY LRS IS NOT LOOKING AT PLACES COMMUNITIES LIKE OAKBROOK AND GLEN ELLEN.

HE SAYS THOSE COMMUNITIES WOULDN'T ALLOW IT AND HE SUSPECTS IT IS BECAUSE OF WEST CHICAGO'S LARGE LATINO POPULATION THAT THEY ARE FOCUSING HERE.

BUT SENATOR VILLA SAYS SHE'S DONE RESEARCH AND THE LRS FACILITY WOULD BE STATE-OF-THE-ART AND KEEP OUT THE SMELLS AND IT WOULD BRING SOLID GOOD PAYING JOBS.

>> THE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOTE IT IS A TRANSFER STATION THE GARBAGE THAT COMES IN WILL BE SIFTED THROUGH AND WHATEVER IS RECYCLABLE WILL BE SENT TO BE RECYCLED AND THE OTHER MATERIALS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE PUT INTO CONTAINERS AND SHIPPED OUT.

>> VILLA IS FULL OF PRIDE FOR THE TOWN WHICH SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED WHEN SHE GOES TO SPRINGFIELD SHE PLANS TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION IMPACTING THOSE HIT HARDEST BY COVID INCLUDING A WORKER RIGHTS BILL.

MEANWHILE, THE MAYOR'S NEXT MISSION IS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN HYPE IT UP SO PEOPLE CAN HANGOUT AND TAKE THE FRAIN INTO CHICAGO.

CHICAGO HE WANTS TO FOCUS ON THE NEXT GENERATION AND WEST CHICAGO IS HOME TO AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER THAT SERVES FAMILIES WITHIN 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THAT EXISTS.

WE SERVE THE MOST UNDER RESOURCED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE QUALITY ACCESS IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE.

>> EDUCARE TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND WORKING WITH PARENTS TO DO THINGS LIKE RESUME BUILDING AND IT IS A DUEL LANGUAGE SCHOOL AND TWO OUT OF THREE TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM THEY ARE BILINGUAL.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND COMING UP OVERCOMING VACCINE HESITANCY.

FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WOULD BE GETTING ENOUGH CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TO VACCINATE ALL ADULT AMERICANS BUT ANTI-VACCINATION CONSPIRACY THEORIES CONTINUE TO SPREAD AND MANY PEOPLE REMAIN DISTRUSTFUL OF VACCINES AND OTHERS ARE KEEN TO GET THE VACCINE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HERE IS WHAT ROSE TOLD US LAST WEEK.

>> MY KIDS ARE SCHOOLTEACHERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED ALSO.

NOW WE COULD GET TOGETHER, I THINK.

STILL WEAR OUR MASK AND DISTANCES BUT FINALLY GET TO HUG EVERYONE.

>> AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF VACCINE HESITANCY ARE Dr. JUNE McKOY A CANCER SPECIALIST AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

AND Dr. MARINA DEL RIOS AN EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN AT UI HEALTH THE FIRST PERSON IN CHICAGO TO RECEIVE A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE WHEN THE CITY'S VACCINE ROLLOUT BEGAN.

WELCOME BOTH OF TO YOU "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

Dr. DEL RIOS YOU HEARD THE HAPPY CAMPER WHAT IS THE SENTIMENT YOU ARE HEARING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> I'M SEEING AT THE BEGINNING THERE WAS MORE HESITANCY BUT MORE REPORTS OF PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT LINING UP AND WAITING HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR VACCINE.

>> AND Dr. McKOY WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OLDER ADULTS THAT THE YOU TREAT?

>> OLDER ADULTS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE VACCINE.

I THINK THEY ARE ACCOUNTED FOR THE MOST CASES OF PEOPLE GETTING THE VACCINE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

VERY EXCITED AND WILLING TO WAIT OVERNIGHT IN LONG LINES TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> AND Dr. McKOY CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE PANDEMIC IN GENERAL HAS AFFECTED OLDER ADULTS NOT JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH BUT MENTAL HEALTH SINCE MANY LIVE IN ISOLATION, THEY MIGHT BE WIDOWED, EXPLAIN THAT?

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN DEVASTATING FOR OLDER ADULTS.

MANY OF THEM AS YOU SAID BEFORE ARE ISOLATED.

THEY CANNOT HAVE THAT CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY ARE MISSING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.

THEY ARE MISSING THEIR FRIENDS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS A WORSENING OF PEOPLE'S MEMORIES AND COGNITION BECAUSE OF THIS.

WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE NOT EATING AS MUCH AND WE'RE SEEING DEPRESSION ARISING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

IT HAS BEEN HARD ON THE OLDER POPULATION.

>> A LOT OF RELATED HEALTH ISSUES.

Dr. DEL RIOS WHEN WE SPOKE LAST, YOU SAID THERE WAS HESITANCY EVEN AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

HAS THAT ALSO GONE AWAY A LITTLE BIT?

>> THAT CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

FOR THE MOST PART, ALMOST EVERYONE HAS MADE AN APPOINTMENT OR HAS GOTTEN THEIR SHOT AND THAT BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY.

>> IT SEEMS TO BE CATCHING ON.

Dr. McKOY WE KNOW ABOUT HESITANCY IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF PAST HISTORY OF UNETHICAL RESEARCH.

HAVE SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS BEEN ASWAGED WITH THIS VACCINE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THEY HAVE BEEN ASWAGED.

I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THAT IS THE PRIMARY REASONS WHY AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE HESITANT ABOUT TAKING THE VACCINE.

I REALLY THINK IT GOES TO A DISTRUST OF INSTITUTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND A DISTRUST HAS BUILT UP OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE WONDERING WHY ARE YOU SUDDENLY INTERESTED IN US WHEN WE HAVE NOT HAD GOOD ACCESS TO CARE AND PEOPLE NOT HELPING US PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES.

I THINK IT GOES TO THIS DISTRUST THAT HAS BUILT UP OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES AND NOT REALLY FOR INSTANCE THE VACCINE BEING THE ISSUE.

>> AND HEAVY OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDING THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, KAMALA HARRIS WHO CALLED INTO WBEZ YESTERDAY.

>> I THINK THAT THE ACCESS ISSUE IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING THE ISSUE OR MORE OF THE ISSUE THAN HESITANCY.

IN MY TRAVEL MOSTLY VIRTUALLY, BUT IN MY TRAVELS FOLKS ARE SAYING I WANT THE VACCINE HOW DO I GET IT?

AND THERE'S HESITANCY BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOT AN ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE.

>> THE VICE-PRESIDENT SAYS IT'S MORE ABOUT ACCESS THAN HESITANCY.

YOU SEE THE UNITED CENTER SITE ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS NOW.

HAVE THOSE ACCESS ISSUES BEEN SOLVED?

>> NO, IF ANYTHING I WORRY THAT THIS MASS VACCINE SITE IS GOING TO UNDO THE LITTLE BIT OF PROGRESS THAT WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS PROGRAM.

THE WEBSITE IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT BE TECH SAVVY OR HAVE VISUAL ISSUES.

THE LANGUAGE BARRIER ITCH ISSUE IS A PROBLEM.

AND I PERSONALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO VEST OF INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS.

THESE MASS VACCINATION SITES ARE ALL GLITCH AND GLAMOUR THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX THE DISPARITIES.

>> CITY OFFICIALS TOUTED INCREASING EQUITY NUMBERS AND SEVERAL WEEKS AGO IT WAS MAJORITY WHITE FOLKS GETTING THE VACCINATION.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE IMPROVED THEIR NUMBERS.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?

>> I HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN THAT AND I AGREE WITH Dr. DEL RIOS.

I BELIEVE THAT A TRUSTED MESSENGER IN A COMMUNITY IN SMALL CLINICS WILL DO A LOT MORE GETTING MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS OPTING FOR THE VACCINE.

WHEN I AM DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF OR WANT TO FIX SOMETHING IN MY HOME I DON'T LOOK IN THE YELLOW PAGES I CALL SOMEONE I TRUST AND ASK THEM ABOUT TEMPERATURE THE TRUSTED MESSENGER IS THAT IS SUPER DIFFUSER WILL BE THE ONE TO EDUCATE AND HELP OUR COMMUNITIES TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> CONSENSUS TO TALK IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY LEVEL TO IMPROVE THE NUMBERS.

Dr. DEL RIOS THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT GET SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA, DO YOU HEAR THESE THEORIES AND WORRIES FROM PATIENTS?

>> I HEAR SOME OF THEM BUT THAT IS NOT THE MAIN ISSUE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING VACCINATED.

IT'S ABOUT ACCESS.

THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THEY HAPPEN WITH YOUR REGULAR VACCINES.

HOW MANY PARENTS ARE OPTING NOT TO VACCINATE THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF THEM GETTING AUTISM THOUGH THERE'S PLENTY OF DATA SHOWING THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

BUT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO GET THE VACCINE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE TO WHERE THEY LIVE, CONGREGATE AND WORK.

>> Dr. McKOY WHAT ABOUT CONCERNS AMONG OLDER AMERICANS THERE COULD BE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM TAKING THE VACCINE.

HOW DO YOU ASWAGE THOSE CONCERNS?

>> WHAT MAKES ME HEARTENED IS THE OLDER ADULTS ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

THEY WANT IT.

IT WILL BE MORE OF AN ACCESS ISSUE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE VACCINES TO THEM.

WE ARE NOT SEEING A MAJOR CONCERN AT ALL.

I DON'T HEAR THEM SAYING THEY WILL BECOME FRANKENSTEIN BUT NOT THE ELDERLY AT ALL.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL CITY LEADERS ABOUT IMPROVING THE EQUITY RATES.

THEY NEED TO TRUST THE FOLKS THAT ARE DISSEMINATING THE INFORMATION?

>> I WOULD TELL THE CITY CONTINUE TO GIVE THE VACCINE TRY TO GET THE HERD IMMUNITY ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL.

AND USE TRUSTED PEOPLE.

TRUSTED MESSANGERS.

IF YOU GIVE ENOUGH OF THE VACCINE MY NEIGHBORHOOD WILL GET IT AND MY NEIGHBOR WILL SAY I AM OK AND I WILL BE OPEN TO GETTING THAT VACCINE.

IF THERE'S ACCESS.

>> SORRY.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU TO Dr. JUNE McKOY AND Dr. MARINA DEL RIOS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT ABBREVIATED TO BRING YOU SPECIAL PLEDGE PROGRAMMING AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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