After reports of Loretto Hospital leadership improperly administering vaccinations to Trump Tower employees ahead of those eligible in the city’s current phase 1B+, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said today that officials are investigating the details of the “breach.”
“It was disappointing to see a provider that was obviously in a high-need part of the city from a vaccination standpoint be using vaccines for people who were not eligible and not working to prioritize vaccinations for its own patients and community,” Arwady said during a conference call with various media outlets including The TRiiBE.
Today, Loretto Hospital’s board said that it would be disciplining hospital executives CEO George Miller and COO Dr. Anosh Ahmed. Ahmed is the hospital official tied to the vaccination event at Trump Tower earlier this month.
According to a March 19 Block Club Chicago report, Miller administered over 200 shots to members of his South Suburban Church, Valley Kingdom Ministries International at an event in late February. Miller is a member of the church and is close friends with the church’s pastor, H. Daniel Wilson.
Under the city’s current vaccination rollout phase 1B+, all essential frontline workers and residents between 16 and 64 with underlying conditions are eligible to get the vaccine. During this phase, the city continues to prioritize vaccinating all Chicagoans age 65 and over.
Hotel workers are eligible for vaccination under 1C, which doesn’t begin until March 29.