Mission Emanuel Clinic and COVID Vaccines
Over the past several years, we have been able to establish an excellent working relationship with the Dominican Republic Department of Public Health. Because of this trust in our operation from the Dominican government, we recently partnered in testing for COVID-19 and now, Mission Emanuel is one of the few distribution sites for the vaccine in Santo Domingo. Because of your investment into our clinic, we have been able to impact even more people in our community. As of last week, we have already vaccinated more than 300 individuals who are at high-risk for severe COVID-19.
Last week, a man arrived at our clinic with a friend who was still in need of a vaccine. They had previously gone together to a different vaccination center and waited for hours in a long line. However, when his friend got to the front of the line, he was denied vaccination due to being HIV positive. Despite the fact that HIV is not a contraindication for receiving the vaccine, he was turned away based on his diagnosis.
As they left, someone told them, “Go to Mission Emanuel…they have God, they will give him the vaccine.” Since these two are not from our community, they traveled from the northern part of Santo Domingo based on this word of mouth recommendation. Of course, Dr. Sara Hidalgo welcomed him to our clinic warmly, and he received his COVID-19 vaccination at Mission Emanuel.
As is customary with all of her patients, Dr. Sara and our staff spent time with this patient after his vaccination and shared with him about why our clinic exists, how we seek to serve patients, and the love of Christ.
Emanuel means “God with us.” To know that someone in a distant part of the city is telling others that God is here at Mission Emanuel is a clear and present reminder of why we provide the ministry that we do. Would you pray with us for all the individuals who will likely come through our doors over the next weeks and months as we continue to serve as a COVID-19 vaccination center? There will likely be many who do not know Christ – it is our desire to serve each one in love, and we’re praying for each of them that they may encounter Jesus.
