How pharmacy deserts are putting the health of Black and Latino Americans at risk
Lack of access to a nearby pharmacy can have major health consequences by impeding people's ability to get vaccinations and keep up with prescriptions.
Pharmacies were once abundant in the South Side of Chicago. Now, residents living in the majority Black neighborhood often find themselves with few options when it’s time to get a prescription refilled or stock up on cold medicine.
Ladell Johnson, a longtime resident of the South Side, drives half an hour from her house to the downtown area every time she needs to pick up her prescription. “Luckily, this pharmacy is close to where I work, but my house is half an hour away by car or one hour by bus,” she said. “If I didn’t have a car, I would have to walk 20 blocks one way to my closest pharmacy.”
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