In the first week of November, Arias Benitez-Perez, our Immunizations Manager, organized two Community Health Chats in the Chicagoland area. The first chat was at the West40 Intermediate Service Center in Maywood, IL, and the second was at the PASO West Suburban Action Project in Melrose Park, IL. The purpose of these health chats was to provide a space for community members to learn how to stay safe from respiratory illnesses and how they can make better health-related choices for themselves and their families. The Maywood location had vendors, including Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) and Zakat Foundation.
Dr. Juanita Mora led the presentations in English and Spanish. She is an allergy and immunology physician and the CEO of the Chicago Allergy Center. Jordyn Hester, EverThrive IL’s Communications Manager, said, “I knew the premise of what the health chat would be about and was surprised to learn a few new things that I will keep in mind during this fall and winter flu season.” One notable point that Dr. Mora mentioned is the importance of getting your COVID-19 vaccine yearly. Like the flu, new strains of the virus can spread. She also discussed RSV and how the disease usually impacts young children; seniors are starting to get RSV, too. This means that it’s essential to keep an eye on your younger and older family members and make sure/encourage them to get vaccinated if they can (RSV vaccines are now available to adults 60 years and older).
During the chat, there was a Q&A portion where people could ask Dr. Mora questions and express their concerns during this flu season. We want community members to feel heard and know that they aren’t alone regarding specific fears and concerns. Arias Benitez–Perez, Immunization Manager, details why this is so important:
“The Community Health Chats are more than events; they are acts of empowerment. These gatherings build bridges between communities and medical professionals, creating spaces where residents’ voices are heard and their most pressing questions answered. We are addressing fear with truth, misinformation with knowledge, and isolation with collective care. This is how our communities heal—not just through medicine, but through connection, trust, and the power of shared understanding.”
EverThrive IL wants to ensure that people are educated on specific diseases and immunizations so they can make informed decisions regarding their health and the health of their loved ones. We hope those who attended both health chats feel empowered to take charge of their health and feel they can depend on the community when they feel confused, scared, and unheard regarding their health concerns.
If you need more information about the annual flu and updated COVID-19 vaccinations, please visit the following websites to stay informed and healthy!
English Flu Website: https://flushot.everthriveil.org/
Spanish Flu Website: https://flushot.everthriveil.org/es/
English COVID-19 Website: https://understand.everthriveil.org/
Spanish COVID-19 Website: https://understand.everthriveil.org/es