Post by St. Luke’s Hospital with an introduction by Emily Rosencrans, M.Div., MFT, BCC, St. Luke’s Network Director of Pastoral Care
Greetings to my clergy colleagues!
I have been watching one of The Great Courses series on The Black Death: The World’s Most Devastating Plague, taught by Dorsey Armstrong, Ph.D.
Over 75 million people died worldwide in a series of plague outbreaks around the world, with millions dying beginning in the late 1340s in Asia, Europe, and everywhere people traveled. What we know as “The Plague” may have been more than just bubonic plague, with smallpox and other outbreaks killing over 50% of the population.
Strangely enough, this catastrophic event led to great social change, the Enlightenment, and advances in everything from medicine to art. The Dark Ages gave way to the Renaissance, in much less time, because of the enormous changes brought on by unthinkable loss. For the first time, people could move from the class in which they were born. People could aspire to own land or become educated because the need for clergy, government leaders, bankers, lawyers, and various tradespeople opened doors for social mobility. Innovations were necessary as many traditional ways of doing things died with plague victims, and there simply were not enough people to accomplish everything.
In the last year, we have faced tremendous loss and disruption. We have also seen innovations leading to the creation and distribution of vaccines in record time, discovering which medications and treatments would bring healing and hope, and finding all sorts of creative ways of doing things.
The future looks bright with new discoveries, some born of necessity, as we find novel ways of working and engaging socially and make advances in biotechnology, agricultural technology, and internet technology. We will forever yearn for the old ways and old habits that proved sacred and meaningful, and we will never forget loved ones taken by this pestilence.
At the same time, God is in the business of making all things new, which we see even in the creation of St. Luke’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.
As Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up.”
Emily Rosencrans
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St. Luke’s Hospital has some exciting updates to our previous post about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and scheduling. These updates pertain to our new clinic location, expanded eligibility, and even easier scheduling. Serving as a vaccinator site is part of our healthcare mission, and we are encouraged by our community’s eagerness to receive the vaccine so that everyone can get back to doing the things they enjoy with those they love.
St. Luke’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
On Monday, April 5, St. Luke’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic opened at its new location on the upper level of Chesterfield Mall near Macy’s. We relocated our original vaccine clinic on our main
campus to this location. The larger space at Chesterfield Mall offers greater flexibility to increase our vaccination capacity for the community as more groups are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri and vaccine supply increases.
Expanded Eligibility
All Missouri residents 16 years of age and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A parent or legal guardian must accompany individuals under the age of 18 to both of their vaccination appointments and provide consent.
Direct Scheduling
Vaccine doses are administered by appointment at St. Luke’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on a first-come, first-served basis. To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit lukesvaccine.com and complete the online form. Our vaccine clinic cannot accommodate walk-in requests and is unable to vaccinate non-Missouri residents.
St. Luke’s is administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which is given in two doses, spaced a minimum of 21 days apart. Information about your second dose appointment will be confirmed when you visit our clinic to receive your first dose.
Be sure to continue checking lukesvaccine.com frequently for updates regarding St. Luke’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. For the most up-to-date information about the vaccine, we encourage you to visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services COVID-19 vaccine website, MOStopsCOVID.com, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19. If you are not a Missouri resident, please consult your local or state health department for COVID-19 vaccinator sites in your area.
Please share this information with your congregation. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our community healthy!
