Neel French, MD, SC

COVID VACCINE INFO UPDATE

7/24/2021

DELTA Variant COVID-19 BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE SURGING IN CHICAGO. WE HAVE 3 NEW CASES IN THE LAST 1-2 WEEKS. THESE PEOPLE ARE MODERATELY ILL AND 2 WERE PFIZER VACCINE RECIPIENTS AND ONE HAD JANSSEN, SO IT DOES NOT MATTER WHICH VACCINE WAS RECEIVED. LOLLAPALOOZA AND MARKET DAYS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BEING SUPERSPREADER EVENTS.

WE HAVE 35 DOSES OF JANSSEN VACCINE THAT WILL EXPIRE ON 7/28/2021. PLEASE EMAIL DR FRENCH neel@neelfrenchmd.com ASAP if you have changed your mind and want this vaccine.

New data shows that the immune response to this vaccine is strong against the Delta variant and that immunity is lasting 8 months or longer.

I do not recommend this vaccine for women under the age of 50, due to the RARE clotting problems that caused the initial pause with this vaccine. Even the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have potential heart inflammation issues now. In general, the vaccines have helped IMMENSELY to decrease new COVID cases, severity of breakthrough cases and transmission.

IN YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THE JANSSEN VACCINE, PLEASE E-MAIL DR FRENCH

(neel@neelfrenchmd.com).

In the future, COVID vaccine "boosters" MAY be needed and hopefully will be given by a person's primary care provider.

COVID Vaccination Sites
Currently every Chicago resident over 16-years-old is eligible for the COVID vaccine. The city has recently opened up new mass vaccination appointments at the United Center and Wrigley Field. To register for a vaccine at Wrigley Field you must register online at zocdoc.com/vaccine. To book an appointment at the United Center click on the image below to see appointment availability. Appointments for both locations will be to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

New AMITA COVID Vaccine Information:

As vaccine supply has continually become more available, we would like to afford our patients every opportunity to be vaccinated at an AMITA Health location as soon as possible. We will no longer provide unique links for appointment scheduling and patients will be able to share the link they’ve received with others. Patients and consumers also will be able to access the system’s mass vaccination schedules through the AMITA Health website. Please scroll down for the full list of mass vaccination locations within AMITA Health.

Patients and community members can visit https://www.amitahealth.org/covid-19/vaccine, which will contain a scheduling link for direct registration. Dedicated patient outreach and communication will continue to encourage everyone to receive the vaccine, while providing the latest information and facts available for our patients whom may still be undecided about receiving the vaccine.

These five state-run mass vaccination sites, located in Cook County, are currently open to any eligible Illinois resident. Register online or call 833-308-1988 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday) for an appointment:

Des Plaines: Former K-Mart (1155 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines)
Forest Park: Former HOBO (7600 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park)
River Grove: Triton College (2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove)
South Holland: South Suburban College (15800 State St., South Holland)
Tinley Park: Tinley Park Convention Center (18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park)

Pharmacies (some accept walk-ins)

Pharmacies within national or regional drug and grocery stores will let you search for open appointments at all participating locations, and many eligible Chicagoans report having luck finding open slots this way. Each pharmacy has its own requirements for proof of identity, so read your appointment instructions carefully. Required identification may include a work or state ID, proof of employment, consent forms, confirmation emails and/or your insurance information.

Chicago’s COVID-19 vaccine website: www.chicago.gov/covidvax This website is for health care providers as well as the general public. It will be updated frequently as new information about COVID19 vaccines becomes available.

DR FRENCH IS A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN, HOWEVER SOME OF HIS ACCEPTED INSURANCE PLANS ARE CONTRACTED THROUGH Amita Health Clinically Integrated Plan (AH CIN).

The site number for HMO IL, Blue Advantage HMO, and Blue Precision HMO is site #494-AMITA ST JOE CHI and the site number for Blue Cross Medicare Advantage HMO is #741-AMITA ST JOE CHI.

Humana HMO (site#694) is also coordinated by AH CIN.

CALL 888-747-2264 TO SELECT DR. FRENCH AS YOUR PCP FOR HMO IL,

BLUE ADVANTAGE HMO, BLUE PRECISION HMO , HUMANA HMO,

AND BLUE CROSS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE HMO

MARKETPLACE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS 2021

WE TAKE: Blue Choice Preferred PPO, Blue Precision HMO (site #494 AMITA ST JOE CHI); French MUST be your PCP); Cigna Connect AND Bright (FRENCH must be your PCP)

WE DO NOT TAKE Ambetter from Illinicare; Blue Care Direct; Blue Focus Care

MAINSTREAM HEALTHCARE PLANS

ACCEPTED: Blue Choice PPO (BCS); Blue Cross PPO; Aetna, United, UMR, Meritain, Humana, Cigna, PHCS, Smart Health (Amita PPO), Medicare, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage and Humana Medicare; Blue Cross Community and Meridian are THE ONLY Medicaid plans that are accepted.

Traditional Medicaid may be your secondary IF your have Medicare as Primary Plan.

NOT ACCEPTED: Cigna Local Plus, Cigna Plus, AARP Medicare Complete, County Care, Illinicare

COVID-19 PANDEMIC ISSUES

WE HAVE DIAGNOSED OVER 220 PATIENTS IN OUR PRACTICE WITH COVID-19 ILLNESS SINCE MARCH 2020. WEAR MASKS IF YOU THINK YOU SHOULD!!! CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS HAVE ENTERED PHASE 5, WHICH IS A RELIEF, HOWEVER MASKS ARE STILL TO BE WORN IN MEDICAL OFFICES/HOSPITALS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE REQUIRE THAT ALL PATIENTS WEAR A FACE COVERING IF ENTERING OUR OFFICE; WE RARELY SCHEDULE TELEMEDICINE VISITS VIA FACETIME, SKYPE. OR ZOOM ONLY IF NECESSARY AS THESE PLATFORMS HAVE SEVERAL LIMITATIONS. YOU MAY E-MAIL DR FRENCH TO REQUEST A TELEMED VISIT OR RX REFILLS: neel@neelfrenchmd.com

IF YOU HAVE COVID-RELATED SYMPTOMS LIKE FEVER OVER 100, COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SORE THROAT, CHANGES IN TASTE OR SMELL, CALL THE OFFICE TO BE TRIAGED.

I WISH ALL MY PATIENTS AND STAFF GOOD HEALTH!

Neel French, M.D.

Hours/Directions/ Parking

Monday: 9:00AM-5:30PM

Tuesday: 10:00AM-7:30PM

Wednesday: 9:00AM-5:30PM

Thursday: 9:00AM-5:30PM

2-3 Fridays per month: 8:00AM-4:30PM

2 Saturdays per month: 8:00AM-12PM

*Valet park $10 (9-5 M-TH;9-1F)
*Park Chicago (only $3/hour)
*Side street parking WEST of Clark Street is NON-ZONED during daytime.
*Broadway #36 or Clark #22 bus to front door (Deming)

Neel French, M.D., S.C.

2551 N Clark St, Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60614, US

(773) 857-2650; Fax (773)857-2645

Hours

See Above Please

2551 N. Clark Street, Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60614