VACCINATION PRIVILEGE?

Chicago is a city of contrasts, and that includes Third World levels of coronavirus vaccinations in neighborhoods hardest hit by coronavirus infections.

About 48% of all Chicagoans have gotten at least one shot, which keeps pace with the national average. Twenty-nine city ZIP codes are exceeding that pace, while 16 have rates of at least 37%. The remaining 11 are well below it — and those are all located on the South and West sides.

The disparities correspond in the city’s vax breakdown by race as well: about 55% of white Chicagoans and 53% of those of Asian descent have gotten a shot, compared to 39% of Latino residents and 32% of Black residents.

That checks out for Englewood Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th), who said institutions at all levels have “failed folks in Black and Brown communities from the time COVID hit.”

“When it comes to vaccinations, people don’t trust the government, and I can’t blame them. They’re scared,” Taylor said. “First we couldn’t get any testing. Then a bunch of our vaccinations went to people in the suburbs. Now I’m gonna trust you to shoot me in the arm? I don’t see it.”

Put another way, the lakefront liberal component of mayor Lori Lightfoot's coalition is on board with the Trump shots, but the communities that provide her largest pluralities are not yet there.

In Wrigleyville, which is the northern end of the fifteen square miles of privilege, the Cubs are again playing to capacity crowds.  Milwaukee isn't yet that optimistic.  The poorer parts of Chicago might still be doing most of the dying of coronavirus.