Chicago Department of Public Health Hosts 4th Annual Chicago Day of Prayer

Chicago Department of Public Health Hosts 4th Annual Chicago Day of Prayer

Church Congregations Pray for a Healthy Holiday Season While Offering Vaccines

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Department of Health (CDPH) assembled faith leaders across all denominations in Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods to pause in a shared moment of prayer for a safe and healthy holiday season. This moment also offered a reminder for residents to update their COVID and flu shots. CDPH Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige and CDPH Medical Director Dr. Geraldine Luna stressed the importance of vaccines, especially as we head into cooler temperatures and the holiday season.

“It warms my heart to see the city and the faith community coming together to help raise awareness about the importance of vaccination,” said Dr. Ige. “We may all be tired of hearing and talking about COVID-19 but unfortunately, COVID is still around. On top of that, we have the flu and RSV, which is impacting our senior population, pregnant women and babies.”

“Staying up to date with your annual vaccines remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you from serious illness from all respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Luna. “Also, vaccines help reduce the spread of viruses in the community overall, so more of us can stay healthy and out of the hospital.”

Public health officials brace themselves during this time of year as they typically see a spike in respiratory viruses. Today’s prayers from various Chicagoland pastors show the care they have for the health of their congregations and surrounding communities.

“I am not a doctor, but I rely on doctors, like Dr. Ige and Dr. Luna to stay healthy,” said Frazlier Pope, III, executive pastor of Fellowship Chicago and host of the Chicago Day of Prayer kickoff event. “We are praying that all our members and Chicagoans across the city heed the CDPH’s advice to protect themselves by getting up to date on their vaccines.”

The prayer service kicked off at 10 a.m. at Fellowship Chicago at 4543 S. Princeton Avenue, and in addition to information from the CDPH included prayers from ministers of all denominations and a performance by the Fellowship Chicago Praise Team. Those in attendance could get vaccines on site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 2 – 6 p.m., the prayers went citywide, as congregations prayed in neighborhoods and hosted prayer in their various places of worship.

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