VACCINATION IS FOR THE COMMON GOOD

Catholic Health Australia and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have released a video encouraging Catholics to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. The video – commissioned by the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, and produced by CHA – seeks to address ethical concerns about the way some of the vaccines have been developed or tested.

The two-minute video features Dr Maree Bellamy, Director of Medical Services at the Mater Hospital in North Sydney. Despite the concerns over the use of cell lines derived from an abortion in the 1970s for the AstraZeneca vaccine, Dr Bellamy concludes by urging people to be vaccinated for their own health, and for the health of the wider community. Her advice is consistent with those of the Vatican and the Bishops Conference.

You can watch the video here

Its release coincides with a document published earlier this week by the Bishops Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement https://www.catholic.org.au/acbc-media/media-centre/media-releases-new/2316-catholics-in-australia-encouraged-to-receive-covid-19-vaccine/file which also addresses the ethical concerns and encourages Catholics to be vaccinated against COVID-19.