MASKS OPTIONAL WHILE INSIDE ST. JAMES’ AS OF MARCH 12TH!

New safety protocols are:

• Masks Optional inside the St. James’ Building
• Parishioners socially distant while in the building/pews
• Peace socially distant
• Communion will remain in the same format using hand sanitizer
• Choir/Band will remain masked
• Readers: Masks are optional
• Clergy will remain masked at communion & greeting at the door
• Children/Teachers: Masks optional

 

 

HOW TO WEAR A MASK-CLICK HERE

QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID TESTING-CLICK HERE

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR EXPOSURE-“WHAT TO DO IF EXPOSED FLOWCHART” (as of Jan. 12, 2022)-CLICK HERE

 

 

COVID VACCINATION FACTS & HELPFUL LINKS FROM ST. JAMES RE-OPENING TASK FORCE

The St. James Reopening Task force would like to encourage and remind all eligible parishioners to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination will not only save you from this very serious disease, but will protect the most vulnerable people around you, such as the elderly, cancer patients, people with chronic diseases and immune deficiency. It also, will allow our church family to gather more safely. With these goals in mind, we will be communicating

COVID vaccine information to the St. James family on a regular basis.

 

 

 

 

Facts about Covid-19 mRNA Vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech (2 doses, 21 days apart) and
                                                              Moderna (2 doses, 28 days apart)

• Messenger RNA vaccines, also called mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. Researchers have been studying and working with the technology of mRNA vaccines for decades.
• These vaccines cannot cause COVID disease in vaccinated persons because they do not contain live virus particles.
• The mRNA in these vaccines never enters the nucleus of our cells (where DNA resides) and so cannot affect our DNA in any way.
• mRNA vaccines have been held to the same rigorous safety and effectiveness standards as all other types of vaccines in the United States.
• mRNA vaccines have been studied for other infections, including flu, Zika, rabies and cytomegalovirus (CMV).• Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is 95% effective at preventing lab confirmed Covid-19 illness after two doses.
• Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective after two doses.

 

Facts about Covid-19 Viral Vector Vaccines: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine (1 Dose)
• Viral Vector Vaccines use a modified version of a different virus (the vector) to deliver instructions to our cells to make the protein that triggers our immune response to COVID-19.
• Viral Vector Vaccines cannot give someone Covid-19 or other infections.
• Scientists began creating viral vectors in the 1970s.
• They have been studied for gene therapy, to treat cancer, and for molecular biology research.
• Some vaccines recently used for Ebola outbreaks have used viral vector technology.
• J&J vaccine was 74.4% effective in U.S clinical trials at preventing lab confirmed Covid-19 illness.

Although it appears less effective than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the J&J vaccines was tested in an environment when many more COVID variants were present. All three vaccines are considered highly efficacious in preventing severe infection, hospitalization and death in people who did had COVID-19 disease.

Common side effects for all three vaccines:
Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site.
Fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.
The severity of these side effects varies from person to person and usually last only a few days.
Things to remember:

• For both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, both doses that you receive should be from the same manufacturer.
• Remember to bring your vaccination card with you for the second vaccine appointment.
• Keep your vaccination card in a safe place. Make copies of it or keep a picture of it on your phone.
• If you have already had COVID-19 disease, you should still get vaccinated. It is still now clear how long natural immunity to the disease last after you have had it.
• After you are fully vaccinated against COVID, it is still recommended that you practice good hand hygiene and follow mask and social distancing guidelines.

 

Further information can be found on the following websites:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov
New York State Department of Health www.health.ny.gov
NYS Vaccination Eligibility Checkerhttp://covid19.health.ny.gov

Key Info from Diocese Regarding In-Person Gatherings 
Recent Updates These guidelines will be updated, and parish leaders notified, as necessary.
These guidelines are effective as of March 24, 2021.
Highlights of current guidelines:
● In-person gatherings for worship and other purposes are limited to 50% of maximum occupancy for the gathering space. Six feet of distance must be maintained between household groups. (Previously, in-person gatherings were limited to 50 individuals or 33% of maximum occupancy.)
● Decisions about whether to resume or expand in-person gatherings within the scope of these guidelines should be made collaboratively by clergy and vestry. In-person gatherings may not be appropriate for every congregation. Effective March 24, 2021; last updated March 24, 2021
● Guidelines for singing at in-person gatherings remain the same: Singing is prohibited, except by one person per service who maintains at least 15 feet of physical distance from all others. It is strongly recommended, but not required, that the soloist wear a mask when singing. Participants should be informed in advance that singing, which poses a greater risk of viral transmission, will be part of the service.
● Individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccination must follow all masking, hygiene, and physical distancing protocols when attending church-sponsored in-person gatherings.