Beginning Sunday, March 23, St. Paul’s will provide a much-needed space for individuals who are immunocompromised to be able to safely return to in-person services and to participate in the church community and its activities to the fullest extent possible. The balcony has been designated as that restricted area for the exclusive use of only those who are immunocompromised.

In order to protect everyone who is immunocompromised, caregivers and family members (adults, adolescents, and particularly children) of immunocompromised individuals should not enter or use this space, no matter what their vaccination status.

Anyone who is more susceptible to contracting any infection and to becoming severely or fatally ill from infections that might be of little or no consequence to healthy individuals would be considered “immunocompromised.” Some conditions that would render someone “immunocompromised” include:

• Lung conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis; moderate to severe forms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (often referred to as “COPD; Pulmonary Fibrosis; and any other severe medical condition of the lungs.
• Severe Congestive Heart Failure with shortness of breath, with or without the need for portable oxygen therapy.
• Cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
• Any form of cancer (solid tumor of any organ) that is being treated with immunosuppressive chemotherapy, radiation therapy or immunotherapy.
• Poor immune response to vaccinations of any kind—some individuals do not mount an effective immune response even after receiving the full dose or series of vaccinations for common viral and bacterial infections.
• Autoimmune diseases and organ transplant recipients treated with high dose steroids or any other immunosuppressive medications.
• Sickle Cell Disease.
• Liver failure from cirrhosis, Wilson’s Disease, or chronic viral hepatitis.
• Prior removal of the thymus gland or the spleen.
• Adrenal insufficiency treated with replacement steroids in high doses.
• Uncontrolled diabetes with or without kidney failure.
• Immunodeficiency caused by uncontrolled HIV infection, with low T cell counts.
• Rarely: Inherited or acquired primary immunodeficiency.

We also would like to respectfully request that all parishioners be mindful of individuals wearing masks and to keep a distance of six feet away from them, if possible, and not to crowd them when they are trying to walk through the church to get to the sanctuary.

If you have any questions, please contact St. Paul’s Interim Rector, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Applegate.