Vaccines bring hope and healing to parishioners at Colorado’s oldest Black church

Older folks were excited to come to Shorter Community AME Church in Denver on Sunday to get their COVID-19 vaccines. Many parishioners have deeply missed seeing one another, worshiping together and singing in choirs.

By: Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth Feb. 8, 2021

Elders at Colorado’s oldest Black church dressed in their Sunday finest and greeted one another warmly as they received COVID-19 vaccines, celebrating what they hope will be a healing turnaround.

African Americans have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic, but so far, have received only about 5% of vaccines in the U.S.

UCHealth workers and doctors from the University of Colorado School of Medicine teamed up with the Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler, pastor of Shorter Community AME Church, and several of the Denver church’s volunteers to vaccinate more than 525 people on Sunday.

Black church leaders can help lead the way so more people of color get potentially life-saving vaccines…