Federal investigators looking into The Loretto Hospital's problematic COVID-19 vaccination practices are seeking records for an event in which scarce city-designated vaccines . A doctor with ties to Loretto Hospital took several doses from the West Side Chicago facility to a suburban relative's home as part of a private request, sources and the hospital confirmed Monday . I definitely feel much better since Ive come to Loretto. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The hospital has been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks amid reports it improperly vaccinated people with ties to Loretto leaders including CEO George Millers suburban church and a steak house, jewelry shop and the luxury Trump Tower condo building frequented by former COO Dr. Anosh Ahmed. | Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago, Black and living with HIV/AIDS. She began working for Patch in 2019. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Federal authorities have launched a criminal investigation into how Loretto Hospital administered COVID vaccines. (Block Club Chicago), 3. Published March 27, 2021 Updated on March 27, 2021 at 1:45 pm NBC Universal, Inc. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot addressed the ongoing situation at Loretto Hospital, and heatedly denied she's. George Millers departure comes a year after Block Club Chicago revealed the hospital vaccinated ineligible people with ties to administrators. Its unfair to the people who live in the community that they cannot take pride in a hospital that has been there for years.. Ahmed recently described himself in a news release as an entrepreneur, angel investor, and physician whose portfolio consists of bars, clubs, hospitals, clinics, schools, and apartments. The two do not own any health care-related businesses together, Culloton said. The FBI subpoena of Millers church focused on vaccinations, which were done in February at Valley Kingdom Ministries International in southwest suburban Oak Forest. Metropolitan Behavioral Associates started its relationship with Loretto in August 2018, and the hospital paid it $980,000 from July 2018 to June 2019. Once theboard reviews the full results, a determination will be made as to whether an external audit is necessary, spokeswoman Becky Carroll said in a statement. Its just frustrating that were not seeing the kind of movement that wed expect in light of the problems that have been drip, drip, dripping coming out of Loretto.. Block Club Chicago and the Better Government Association. We are an acute care community hospital that serves over 33,000 patients Continue Reading 1st Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in Chicago administered at Loretto Hospital CHICAGO (WLS) -- History was made in Chicago Tuesday after the first COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer in Chicago were administered at Loretto Hospital on the West Side. Loretto Hospital is under investigation for "potential misuse of charitable assets." Suhail is not an owner of that company but is an executive. Ahmed, resigned in March 2021 after Block Club revealed the vaccinations at Trump Tower, where Ahmed lived, and at businesses where Ahmed frequented. Austin, Chicago Hospital | The Loretto Hospital If you are in need of charity care, please see our patient portal. The Chicago-filmed sequel hits theaters this weekend, and prominently features Cabrini-Green row houses while computer-generating the old towers. The hospital is highly needed, Ford said. What to Know About the Cook County Commissioner After Advancing to the Runoff Election. WBEZ-FM (Chicago, IL) To listen, click here. Our Charitable Trust Bureau requested information about Lorettos potential misuse of charitable assets, the spokesperson said in an email response to questions about the inquiry. Apply online instantly. Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicagos diverse neighborhoods. A spokesperson for Loretto did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the video, Wilson directly thanks Miller for the vaccinations and says the people vaccinated came from the church and Chicagoland area, a term used to describe the vast metropolitan area in and around the city. Ali Ahmed told Loretto Hospital officials the 10 individuals fit the city guidelines, but hospital officials did not say whether they met the criteria. From our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! by giving all our patients the special attention they need. Its unclear whether, or for how long, the two may have been at Windsor together. This includes directly interviewing sources and research / analysis of primary source documents. Let's go! Miller admitted to vaccinating 72 restaurant, housekeeping, and other hotel employees at Trump International Chicago last week; a group not yet eligible for shots. Provide targeted case management services to patients on psychiatric unit. Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Health care ethics experts said its not illegal for board trustees to do business with the hospital, but such personal financial entanglements could compromise the boards independence. Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. The business arrangements should be investigated, he said, especially given the hospitals importance in the neighborhood. "As the safety net hospital for the city's West Side, we have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," registered nurse and union president D Sutton said in a news release. Loretto spokeswoman Bonni Pear declined Tuesday to. The BGA and Block Club also found the board chairmans law firm billed the hospital for at least $3 million in legal fees over 11 years, although Loretto said his firm worked at a discount. To my dismay, prior to my resignation, Loretto chose not to share exculpatory data from their COVID vaccination audit with the public. State Rep. La Shawn Ford knows this. Here are key takeaways from the night. | Top Proctologists near you. Lightford said in an interview she was not aware of the attorney generals investigation. View this and more full-time & part-time jobs in Loretto, MN on Snagajob. March 22, 2021 / 8:24 PM he resigned Tuesday, saying the board must be more transparent. Loretto provided Ali Ahmed with doses for about 10 of his relatives, sources said. Patient Experience Medical Surgical ICU Yes Cardiac ICU No Bariatric/Weight Control Services No Addiction Treatment. In a statement, Loretto spokeswoman Becky Carroll said the doctor made a request to vaccinate a terminally ill woman and went on to say he is not an employee of Loretto. Loretto Hospital, a 122-bed facility in the Austin neighborhood was the site of Chicago's ceremonial first COVID-19 vaccination. Dr. Sandeep Mellacheruvu, who worked for Loretto from 2018 to Sept. 4, 2020, voluntarily surrendered his medical license in 2008 following allegations that he had attempted to kiss one patient in a psychiatric clinic and allegations that he had sexual contact with a second patient, according to a public document signed by Mellacheruvu and the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure president. AUSTIN Loretto Hospital paid millions of dollars to private companies founded by a close friend and business partner of Dr. Anosh Ahmed, who helped run the hospital until he resigned last month amid a COVID vaccine distribution scandal. The Archdiocese of Chicago and Oak Park Catholic churches continue to encourage vaccinations, following Pope Francis statement calling it the moral choice. St. Giles pastor Rev. Suhail attorney Joseph Hylak-Reinholtz said Suhail has not been contacted by the attorney general or any government investigators about the contracts. Loretto is a small so-called safety net hospital in Austin that treats mostly low-income and elderly Black patients. He would have been president and CEO of that company, and the application said Loretto would waive the first two years of rent for the company in exchange for securities in the business. I dont know anything about the attorney generals probe, she said. State Rep. LaShawn Ford resigned from the hospitals board amid the reports, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for an independent investigation into the vaccine misuse. It is run as a tax-exempt non-profit corporation, and its $81 million annual budget comes through the taxpayer-financed Medicaid program, as well as state grants and donations. 'We are trying to live.' Vaccine. State Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford accepted campaign contributions from a Loretto Hospital contractor and Caribbean travel as part of her board duties. The 122-bed safety-net hospital serves mainly low-income people and patients of color, records show. 1st Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in Chicago administered at Loretto Hospital, The Latest: Kansas mayor resigns over mask mandate threats. The hospital has been an anchor in the predominantly Black neighborhood an area thats dealt with both historic and recent health disparities, including far higher rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths than the city as a whole. Loretto is one of the hospitals slated to get staff from the state, with 24 workers expected to arrive later this month to help handle what's become the worst surge yet for the hospital. Get Vaccinated We are not offering vaccinations at this time. (Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago), David Jackson/Better Government Association, Black and living with HIV/AIDS. An earlier investigation revealed reports of a COVID vaccine scandal and that the publicly funded hospital on Chicago's West Side paid millions to three companies that have ties to former COO and CFO Dr. Anosh Ahmed. Rapid Testing is $75.00 and PCR Testing is $50.00. Specifically, the hospital tested over 23,000 people and vaccinated 16,000 people, of which more than 4,000 live in the Austin community. Tesa Anewishki will serve as acting president and CEO of the hospital for now, and a new leadership team will be selected, Loretto hospital leaders said. Miller became the hospitals first Black president and CEO on Nov. 1, 2017. Every dime we make fundsreportingfrom Chicagos neighborhoods. The next day, Ahmed resigned. Carroll declined to say why Mellacheruvu left Loretto or whether Loretto was aware of his past when he was hired, saying the hospital does not comment on personnel matters. Lightford said she received $4,800 annually from the hospitals insurance firm and had little say in choosing the Caribbean hotel where she and other Loretto board members stayed. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune), Dr. Anosh Ahmed, then chief operating officer of Loretto Hospital, is seen April 30, 2020, at the hospital in Chicago. First published on March 22, 2021 / 8:24 PM. Documentary premieres on West Side, West Side developer plans business incubator in West Garfield Park, Army vet opening sports bar in North Lawndale, carrying on familys legacy, BUILDs life changing new campus opens to change young West Side lives, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. At the time, only frontline workers and people 65 and older were broadly eligible for the vaccines. The hospital reportedly offered vaccinations to the owners and employees at the shop, as well as their family and friends. SKS Healthcare Management Group, also owned by Suhail, began providing lab services for Loretto in June 2019, and was paid $887,188 during that same time period. I can honestly say that the doctors here were excellent. About 60% of the hospitals overnight patients in 2019 were on Medicaid, a state and federally funded health insurance program for low-income people. Manage a caseload involving complex case work in difficult mental health . Loretto spokeswoman Bonni Pear declined Tuesday to. Attorney Generals Office investigating the West Side hospital after Block Club Chicago and the Better Government Association disclosed insider contracts. Block Club Chicago first reported vaccination events that hospital officials organized at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago and at the hospital president's suburban church. Springfield-Washington County Rescue and EMS responded to an auto accident on Loretto Road in the wee hours of Sunday morning. not-for-profit, community-focused health care provider, we offer a unique, Loretto, a cash-strapped safety-net hospital, changed leadership in 2018, bringing on current President George Miller and installing Dr. Anosh Ahmed as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. What's next for Mayor Lightfoot after election loss? Block Club Chicago also reported that a luxury watch shop in the Gold Coast, where Ahmed was a frequent customer, improperly received vaccinations. But he has also not said what the board was doing with Miller or Ahmed. (Wednesday Journal), 4. Sun-Times file. physicians, research institutions, area residents and local businesses, They've got work to do to rebuild trust in the community," Lightfoot said. As this is an ongoing matter, we cannot provide additional information at this time.. Just this week, the US marked the stark milestone of more than 300,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Ultimately, Lorettowill provide whatever is required to meet the citys specifications and satisfaction.. But questions about the hospital have extended past its vaccines. Call: 833-TLH-LOVE to schedule an appointment. The hospital said its chief executive officer and chief operating officer will be reprimanded, and vaccine practices will be reviewed. Loretto, a cash-strapped safety-net hospital, changed leadership in 2018, bringing on current President George Miller and installing Dr. Anosh Ahmed as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. loretto hospital The Latest City Officials Warn Of Potential 'Day Of Hate' Against Jewish Communities There is no known threat, but police and local officials are working closely with synagogues and faith-based organizations. The SEIU says that it strongly objects to the citys decision to withhold first vaccine doses from the hospital, expressing concerns about front line staff at the hospital and about the safety of Austin residents. 6-10 Years of. As Editor-in-Chief of the Lewis University campus newspaper, she earned honors from The Associated Collegiate Press Association and American Scholastic Press Association. In recent months, it's come under scrutiny over a series of scandals. Loretto Hospital CEO and President George Miller has left the troubled West Side safety-net hospital that is being investigated by the FBI, sources confirmed. After the stories disclosing Lorettos contracts with Suhail, Loretto imposed stricter oversight of the hospitals largest contracts, Lightford said. We vaccinated 200 primarily members from the Valley and from the Chicagoland area, and it could not have been done without the leadership, the open heart and the spirit of a brother beloved, Wilson says of Miller. She also declined to comment on whether Ahmed played a role in Mellacheruvus hiring. Judith Sherwin, a Chicago attorney who has represented health care agencies and nonprofits for four decades, said the development represented a blow to Loretto. But youre a member of this ministry., In the video, Wilson gives an award to Miller to thank him for bringing Loretto to the church and Miller then gives an award to Wilson for being Lorettos faith partner.. To have the Loretto Hospital weak is not good.. There should be an independent investigation to determine the specific uses of every dose theyve been allocated, Lightfoot said. Theres no evidence that Ahmed personally profited from any of Suhails companies doing business with Loretto. Mellecheruvu resigned from the school in October 2020 for personal reasons, Mulkanoor said. Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller at a press conference about the COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. Some races are still too close to call, while others saw incumbents get forced into runoffs. It is my hope the city will immediately reinstate Lorettos supply of COVID-19 vaccines. edgewater hotel haunted; can uk consultant doctors work in usa; is spitfire a compliment As the pandemic tore through low-income communities of color, officials provided Illinois first vaccination doses to Loretto in December, in large part to assure Black and Latino citizens they would be prioritized and protected. As part of its investigation, Block Club also revealed the hospital was funneling vaccines meant for underserved areas of the West Side to ineligible people at Chicagos Trump Tower, where Lorettos then-chief financial officer, Dr. Anosh Ahmed, lived, and at a luxury jewelry store and high-end Gold Coast steakhouse where Ahmed hung out. According to Block Club, Loretto Hospital held a March 3 vaccination event Geneva Seal, a Gold Coast shop that sells high-end jewelry and watches, where Ahmed is a frequent customer and has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. A BGA report explains that any wrongdoings could threaten Loretto's nonprofit status with the state, but the Illinois Attorney General's Office is not providing details of the probe. The Illinois Attorney General is investigating the West Side hospital after reports of insider contracts. City officials have cut off Loretto Hospital's supply of COVID-19 vaccines after the West Side hospital broke the rules for who is eligible to get shots. When I joined Lorettos leadership team in 2018, I purposefully chose to work at a hospital located in an underserved community. I and many others have been sickened in the line of duty, some of us so seriously that we had to be hospitalized ourselves. Chicago Mayoral Race + Hyundai Thefts + St. Patrick's Day Parade, On March 14th in Berwyn: `Retirement Tax Planning, Expressway Shooter Arrested + Car Windows Smashed, River Forest Park District Committee Of The Whole To Meet March 1, Oak Park-River Forest Area Real Estate Roundup, Oak Park-River Forest Area Pets Now Up For Adoption: Meet Bonny & More, Officials say pet adoptions are badly needed as, Free 16 HR IL Concealed Carry Training a $200 Value Sign Up Now! Soon after Ahmed joined Loretto in 2018, Suhail created three companies that received contracts with Loretto worth nearly $4 million in that first year, Block Club and the BGA first reported in April. Ahmed resigned from Loretto in March after Block Club reported ineligible people were vaccinated at places with ties to Ahmed including people at Trump Tower, where Ahmed lives, as well as a luxury jewelry shop and a high-end Gold Coast steakhouse. The doctor, Ali Ahmed, runs Affinity Health, which oversees COVID-19 clinical trials at Loretto. Anosh Ahmed resigned last week amid the controversy. While information provided at the time deemed that these individuals were eligible per city vaccination guidelines, Loretto is no longer approving off-site visits that arent either hosted by the hospital or community partners and organizations.. It is unfortunate the present controversy is overshadowing the good work the hospital is doing to fight COVID-19 by testing and vaccinating residents in the Austin community and City of Chicago. U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago, who lives in Austin, said the community recognizes the importance of Loretto Hospital and hopes whatever problems it has will be resolved. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Valley Kingdom Ministries was one of the first churches if not the first visited by the hospital, according to newsletters written by Miller to Loretto staff and obtained by Block Club. Ahmed could not immediately be reached for comment. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times The longer the top executives at Loretto Hospital hang on, the more negative stories are going to come out about how this safety-net hospital is being run. Our work is critically important and we do not want it disrupted.". Suhail was already doing some business with Loretto before Ahmed became an executive there. Its really been a pillar in the community, said Austin resident Dora Dantzler-Wright, of Loretto. In the past, the hospital has defended its business practices, and said it was finding new ways to generate revenue and provide high-quality health care. On March 25, Lightfoot called for an independent investigation into the hospitals vaccinations. Leen Yassine 2 hours ago 'Hamilton' Returning To Chicago In September After 3-Year Absence Block Club sources have said Loretto vaccinated people at a luxury Gold Coast jewelry store frequented by Ahmed; higher-ups at a steakhouse where Ahmed dines; ineligible workers at Trump Tower, where Ahmed and another hospital official live; and a suburban church attended by Miller. The hospital has not said what punishments, if any, it has levied against him for the scandals. Our Premium Cost of Living Calculator includes Food & Groceries indexes and prices for Meats, Fruits and Vegetables, Milk and Eggs, Bread, Ground Beef, Sugar, Coffee, Beer and other must-know details.Click here to customize.. Food & Groceries in Loretto, Tennessee are 6.7% cheaper than Murfreesboro, Tennessee They attended college together, were fraternity brothers and are even close enough that Miller attended Wilsons bachelor party, they say in the video. each year from Chicago's Austin and surrounding communities. Representatives of both the hospital and Suhail say the companies helped the hospital provide higher quality care and sometimes helped Loretto financially. We offer COVID-19 Rapid & PCR Testing at Loretto Hospital Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. An investigation in May showed Lightford and others accepted perks and payments from the hospital while serving as board members. One of the contracts was to overhaul the hospitals billing system and another was to revamp the hospitals psychiatric unit. Sameer Suhail and a small group of other vendors have figured out how to provide competitive, better priced, quality services to community hospitals where theyve struggled to find those kinds of partners, Culloton said. Miller himselfsaid life expectancy in the Austin neighborhood is significantly lower than the rest of Chicago. Loretto has repeatedly assured Lightfoot it's "come clean" only for yet another scandal to come out, the mayor said. In March, Lorettos board reprimanded former hospital Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed and Loretto President and CEO George Miller after the hospital improperly vaccinated ineligible workers at Trump Tower downtown and Cook County judges. During that treatment, he admitted to abusing cocaine, buprenorphine and alcohol and diverting drugs from hospitals in India and the United States, according to the Mississippi agreement. She previously referred questions to an agency spokesman, who declined comment. Ive just been busting my butt to try and keep the hospital open for 20 years. But, after long and careful consideration, and in light of theattacks in the media on my character and intent, many of which were inaccurate or patently false, I decided it was best to leave with a heavy heart. Ahmed was hired by Loretto in Nov. 20, 2017, before completing his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago in 2018. The hospital has failed to be transparent since Block Club began reporting on the scandals. patient-centered healthcare delivery system that promotes general wellness A spokesperson for the attorney general issued a statement about the investigation. Loretto was forced to create its own offshore insurance firm several years ago when leading U.S. firms wouldnt service the hospital, Lightford said. See you tomorrow for the Sunday edition. Metropolitan Behavioral Associates expanded the hospitals inpatient psychiatric capacity from 20 beds to 60 beds, and provided services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, compared with previously limited hours, she said. Contact Information, Directions. And a Loretto spokeswoman, in March, confirmed that the head of a company that is a hospital vendor requested doses so that 10 people could be vaccinated at a home in late January. Click hereto support Block Clubwith a tax-deductible donation. Ahmed did not respond to requests for comment, but representatives for Suhail and Loretto say the business arrangements were appropriate. Lightfoot said that the city is continuing to administer the COVID vaccine throughout the West Side and those areas that would have been served by Loretto. The vaccine audit being conducted by the. Yvette Hunter, Public Safety Officer at Loretto Hospital uses her experience with domestic violence to help those needing support; see NBC 5 featured report. The controversy over Loretto giving out doses to Trump Tower workers, judges, and others who weren't eligible for the vaccine was first reported by Block Club Chicago, which on Monday reported Loretto also vaccinated ineligible people at a luxury Gold Coast watch and jewelry shop, where the hospital's chief operating officer, Dr. Anosh Ahmed, is a frequent customer. Lightfords campaign fund also has accepted more than $38,000 in contributions from a key hospital management contractor, records show. He released the following statement on Saturday: I made the decision to resign my position as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Loretto Hospital because I was becoming a distraction to the heroic work being performed by the nurses, doctors and staff throughout the pandemic. My experience was extraordinary and your staff are exquisite. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune). The news comes after Block Club Chicago revealed the hospital vaccinated ineligible people with ties to hospital administrators, including at Miller's suburban church. After stepping down amid allegations that he arranged for well-connected individuals to receive coronavirus vaccines, the COO of Chicagos Loretto Hospital released a statement Saturday saying he's become a "'distraction" to staff. The shots were administered on Jan. 29, when people were still desperate for shots in Chicago. And the hospitals compliance officer, who vets all staff and board conflict of interest statements, has private business ties to Lorettos top attorney, who is tasked with defending the institution against legal claims and government investigations. Ben Leven, social worker at Loretto Hospital's Outpatient Mental Health clinic, discusses sleep deprivation. The Department of Public Health, I myself personally, have been in contact with the CEO, the members of the board. According to a post on the Rescue Squad's . Lorettos board is responsible for overseeing contracts and financial billings to ensure top vendors arent overcharging or charging for services that werent provided. I don't expect them to be coming back online anytime soon, but we're there to support them as they identify issues in their systems and controls, but it's unfortunate that has come to this.". Ive been very upfront about the fact that Im deeply disappointed in the way Loretto not only, in my view, misappropriated vaccines that were intended to serve the West Side community, a low-income, Black community that Loretto Hospital has a mission to serve, Lightfoot said. A car went off the road, hitting a tree. Got a story tip? Once again, a West Side safety net hospital admitted to improperly distributing its supply of vaccines outside the city to those connected with hospital executives. The Illinois Attorney Generals Office did not provide specific details on the current investigation. Please reload the page and try again. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Within a few months, Loretto was making headlines for inappropriate distribution of vaccines, including at Trump Tower downtown, where Ahmed owns a condo. The situation with Loretto is such a shame, said Sherwin, who is not connected to the hospital or the probe. Read Reviews. He arrived the same year the Loretto board decided not to renew Dr. Sonia Mehtas contract as president and CEO. Inquiries like this one by the attorney general are not particularly common, said David Bea, a Chicago attorney who has represented hundreds of nonprofit clients over the past two decades. Miller did not immediately return calls last week. State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, a member of the board, has not returned requests for comment. "But clearly, they've got to have better systems in place; better controls. The school was not aware of the allegations against Mellacheruvu in Mississippi, he said. Apply for a Lube-Tech Driver on Third Shift job in Loretto, MN. This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). "Loretto nurses have been on the front lines of our COVID unit. The FBI is also probing vaccinations the hospital did at Trump Tower. Loretto Hospital President George Miller speaks March 12, 2021, during a news conference at the hospital in Chicago. Originally founded in 1923, Loretto Hospital serves over 33,000 patients annually from Chicago's Austin community area, a low-income, majority Black neighborhood that came in 12th among Chicago's 77 community areas for violent crimes per capita in 2017, according to the community's Quality-of-Life Plan published in 2018. Now we have to review every contract thats over $750,000 as a result of this.. Our leadership team, team members, and medical staff remain unwaveringly committed to providing the highest level of patient care and advocacy for the Austin community, the statement read. (. She would not confirm that those vaccinated were related to Ali Ahmed, citing HIPPA privacy laws. The hospital has been an anchor in the predominantly Black neighborhood an area that's dealt with both. The probe follows a series of reports by Block Club and the BGA detailing contracts awarded to a former executives friend; hospital-funded Caribbean trips and other benefits for board members, including vice chairman state Sen. Kimberly Lightford; and the hospitals vaccine distribution scandal. The doctor, Ali Ahmed, runs Affinity Health, which oversees COVID-19 clinical trials at Loretto. Laquitta Boyd, holds her 6-year-old daughter Venisha while receiving her first COVID-19 vaccination at a back-to-school health fair hosted by RUSH University Medical Center at the Salvation Army .