DONATE News and Events News Releases Statements Obituaries Calendar Around the Archdiocese Daybook for Media Synod 2021 - 2023 Jubilee Year in Honor of Mother Cabrini 25th Anniversary of Cardinal Bernardin’s Passing Flu 2021 Peace Initiatives COVID-19 Updates Reopening Resources A Call to Prayer Prayer Resources Pastoral Resources Virtual Events Archdiocese COVID-19 Relief Fund Donate COVID-19 Updates GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE As a faith community concerned about the sanctity of human life, the archdiocese encourages everyone to get vaccinated for the sake of their own health and the common good. It is morally permissible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Pope Francis, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Cardinal Cupich have confirmed this. Christ was a healer and science and medicine heal, too. We should look at this advancement in science and development of life-saving vaccines as gifts from God. The parable of the good Samaritan is about the importance of aiding the stranger and getting vaccinated as an act of love and charity for your neighbor. To register for vaccination or to get more information about the vaccine, visit your local health department’s vaccination website: City of Chicago: Chicago Vaccine Finder Lake County: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4521/COVID-19-Vaccine Cook County: https://cookcountypublichealth.org/communicable-diseases/covid-19/covid-vaccine/ Or for more information, visit the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER As widely reported, there has been a rise in the number of “breakthrough” COVID-19 cases involving those who were vaccinated more than six months ago. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccine breakthrough infections are expected as the vaccines are effective at preventing most [not all] infections. And even though there are breakthrough cases, the vaccines are still highly effective in greatly reducing serious cases, hospitalizations and deaths. As effectiveness of a vaccine can wane over time, the CDC, as well as national and local health departments, are encouraging people to receive a COVID vaccine booster shot. Per the Illinois Department of Public Health, “Getting a booster shot is not uncommon. This happens every year with seasonal flu vaccine.” The CDC currently recommends the following: If you received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, you should get a booster if you are age 18 years and older. If you received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine at least two months ago, you should get a booster if you are 18 years or older. See the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots webpage for additional information and FAQs, as well as the Illinois Department of Public Health website. CDC link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html IL Department public health link: https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine/third-dose-booster-faqs.html READ Defend life, promote access to health care for all, pope says – September 27, 2021 (Link) Unprecedented times – September 15, 2021 (Link) PRINT RESOURCES Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine (English | Spanish | Polish) COVID-19 Vaccine Poster 11x7 (English | Spanish | Polish) COVID-19 Parish Bulletin Ad – Half Page (English | Spanish | Polish) COVID-19 Parish Bulletin Ad – Quarter Page (English | Spanish | Polish) What you need to know about COVID-19 (English | Spanish) What to do if you are sick with COVID-19 (English | Spanish) Stop the Spread of Germs Poster (English | Spanish) Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Poster (English | Spanish) SHARE With #COVID19 still affecting our community, the flu vaccine is more important now than ever. @CardinalBCupich followed the recommendation of health experts and is encouraging all of us to do the same: https://t.co/FUICRL8fQa pic.twitter.com/A6s8Iv1KbG — Archdiocese Chicago (@archchicago) October 21, 2021 © Archdiocese of Chicago All rights reserved 835 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-2030 Site Map Contact Us Privacy Policy Careers IZZY (Staff Portal)