How to keep healthy:
Safety Procedures regarding Viruses and
Reflections regarding Vaccinations
Safety Tips in Times of Viral Outbreaks
 
  • If you have not done so already, please get a flu shot. The chances of contracting influenza are much, much higher than contracting Corona virus. Influenza kills tens of thousands of people in the United States every winter.
  • If you are ill please stay home. The most common symptoms of influenza and corona virus are cough, fever, body aches, and fatigue. If you have these symptoms please don't expose your church family to your illness as well.
  • If you are ill you need to stay home until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of any medication. Don't go to church, to work, or to school until you are well. Please!
  • If you stay home please join us for services via the Internet. You will find a link to our live streamed 10:00 am service on our website.
  • Wash your hands frequently and cough into your elbow, not your hands. I'll bet you already knew that J
  • If you have symptoms of influenza please contact your primary care doctor within the first 48 hours. He or she might be able to prescribe medication that can shorten the illness.
  • If you have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with influenza also contact your primary care physician. He or she might be able to prescribe medication that might prevent you from contracting influenza as well.
 
Be well, and take care of yourself and others!
The Rev. Suzanne Roberts, MD, MPH, MDiv
Priest Associate, St. Luke's Cathedral
Reflections on the importance of Vaccination
Resolutions on Vaccination from the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church  
At its June 10-13, 2019 meeting, the Executive Council of General Convention passed the following resolutions pertaining to the issue of vaccination. The role of the  Executive Council is to "oversee the execution of the program and policies adopted by the General Convention" and thus reflects the formal position of The Episcopal Church on this topic.
 
These particular resolutions can be summarized into three key points:
  • The Episcopal Church does not recognize a valid claim of theological or religious exemption from vaccination for its members.
  • The Church urges members to adhere to science-based medical practices and to seek and follow the guidance of trained medical professionals.
  • Organizations, including schools, should strive to provide access to immunizations to all families, especially to those who cannot afford them.
Click here for more information and specific resolutions


Reflections from the Rev. Dr. Suzanne Roberts
( Opinion piece for use by the Maine Council of Churches,
published in today's Portland Press Herald)
 
My 22 year old patient refused a flu shot during her yearly physical: "I don't do shots," she said. I let that one pass; as a primary care physician I need to choose my battles carefully, but I remembered that she is the mother of a 2 year old child. "Are you getting your son immunized?" I asked. "Oh no" she said, "It is against our religion." "Really? What religion do you belong to?" I replied. "My husband and I are ---" she said, naming one of the three major religions practiced by followers of the God of Abraham and Sarah (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). "Well," I replied, treading carefully again, "I don't know what you have heard in your house of worship, but I happen to know for a fact that your religion does NOT forbid vaccinations. Please don't use your religion as an excuse to not make the difficult decisions of parenting. Your son is depending upon you to make the right decisions for his health, and I recommend that you make sure that he is immunized, not only to protect him, but to protect your community as well."
 
I am a practicing primary care physician and a practicing Episcopal priest, and there is no conflict whatsoever between my faith and my scientific training concerning immunizations: both of these traditions encourage vaccinations. And as a woman of faith and science I get angry when I hear people using religion as an excuse to justify bad decisions made on the basis of fear, ignorance, or selfishness. I worship a God who cares about my health and the health of my community, a God who has always cared about the health of the community; you only have to turn to the Bible to find proof of this.
 
The Bible is a remarkable document. In it you will find stories, poetry, wisdom and prophesy, but you will also find laws. Most of the laws have to do with how God expects us to interact with one another and with God, but others, the dietary and purity laws that modern Christians largely ignore, were actually early attempts to establish public health practices. From the very beginning of our relationship with God, thousands of years before the birth of Jesus, God has expected his followers to adhere to rules that are meant to safeguard the health of the community. The greatest commandment is to love God, but the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:28-31). In response to that commandment we are expected to do certain things: follow the laws, pay our taxes, vote, and protect the health of our vulnerable neighbors by vaccinating our children and ourselves.
 
Last year, with the passage of Legislative Document 798, our Legislature made the wise decision to no longer allow parents to claim religious or philosophical beliefs as a reason to refuse vaccinations for their children. Sadly, antivaccination groups have gathered enough signatures to put a people's veto referendum, Question 1, on the upcoming ballot March 3rd, and they are hoping that voters will agree with their plan to veto LD 798. I urge everyone, but especially people of faith who care about the health of their communities, to vote "No" on Question 1 in order to preserve LD 798. None of the major faith traditions forbid immunizations; all of them ask us to love our neighbors as ourselves, please demonstrate your faith by vaccinating and voting "No" on Question 1.
 


St. Luke's Cathedral
143 State Street, Portland, Maine  04101
(207) 772-5434