CHICAGO – On Saturday morning, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot will join faith leaders across all denominations in all of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods to pause for a shared moment of prayer for COVID-safe holidays.

“From the beginning, the support of faith leaders have helped ensure that vaccination rates reflect the demographics of the city, and for that we are deeply grateful,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “No matter where you live or how you worship, prayer is universal. We are proud to join faith leaders across the City for this moment to reflect on our COVID-19 journey and prepare to enter the holiday season.”

Chicago Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving events will be taking place on November 6th within faith communities across the city – a full list of participants is available at chi.gov/dayofprayer.

“Strong partnerships with trusted community organizations – like Chicago’s faith communities – allow the City to meet people where they are and connect them to vaccine, and we are so thankful for their continued support,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “Vaccines remain the best way to protect yourself and those around you from COVID-19, and now anyone over the age of 5 can get vaccinated to help families gather more safely this holiday season.”

To be fully vaccinated by:

• Thanksgiving, get your second dose fizer or Moderna, or a single-dose J&J vaccine by November 11

• Hanukkah, get your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or a single-dose vaccine by November 14

•Christmas, get your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or a single-dose J&J vaccine by December 11

• Kawanza, get your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or a single-dose J&J vaccine by December 12

In order to continue to ensure that faith leaders have the information and support they need to encourage their communities to get vaccinated against COVID-19, CDPH has developed additional initiatives in partnership with an ecumenical, multifaith coalition in an effort to reach high- to moderate-risk communities and populations. This includes:

• I’ll Hold Your Hand Vaccine Ambassador Program: Every day, faith communities across the city provide support and comfort to those who are fearful, anxious, and in need of additional guidance. Building upon this premise, the I’ll Hold Your Hand Vaccine Ambassador Program gives faith communities the opportunity to organize members to provide hands-on support – literally – and hold the hand of a person struggling to get vaccinated because of fear.

• Interfaith Letter of Support for COVID-19 Vaccines: Faith leaders can sign on to encourage Chicagoans to get their COVID-19 vaccine, recognizing that if we want to return to their normal – full capacity worship services – everyone who is able must be vaccinated. CDPH has developed a number of materials to support faith leaders in talking about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Faith communities can still sign up to be listed as a Day of Prayer participant here, and anyone can visit chi.gov/dayofprayer to learn more about the faith initiatives.

These initiatives are part of the Protect Chicago 77 initiative to ensure that 77 percent of all Chicago residents ages 12 and up have started their COVID-19 vaccination series by the end of the year. Currently, the city is at 75.3 percent towards this goal.

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