Imposing new vaccine mandates could force millions of vaccines to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But people with serious religious beliefs or disabilities that interfere with inoculation may still be exempt from getting sticks.
The case of California and the COVID vaccine
According to information from CNN, in Northern California, a megachurch pastor distributes religious exemption forms to parishioners.
A New Mexico state senator “will help you articulate a religious exemption” by pointing to the use of decades-old aborted fetal cells in the development of some vaccines. And a Texas-based evangelist offers exemption letters to anyone, for a suggested “donation” starting at $ 25.
With workplace vaccination orders out in the open, opponents are turning to a tried and true recourse to avoid getting the COVID-19 vaccine: the claim that vaccination interferes with their religious beliefs.
No important affiliation opposes vaccination COVID
No important affiliation is opposed to vaccination. Even the Church of Christian Science, whose followers rely heavily on prayer rather than medicine, does not impose an official policy. It advises “respect for public health authorities and conscious obedience to the laws of the country, including those that require vaccination.”
And if a person claims that their private religious beliefs prohibit vaccination, that defense is unlikely to hold up in court if challenged, legal experts say. Although some members of the clergy have jumped on the train against vaccines, they have no obvious justification in religious texts for their positions. Many seem willing to care for people who refuse vaccination for another reason.
According to a statement issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in January 2021:
- It may be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine using abortion-derived cell lines if there are no other vaccines available that are comparable in safety and efficacy without connection to abortion.
- If it is possible to choose from several equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen.
- If a vaccine with no connection to abortion-derived cell lines is not readily available. Vaccines using such cell lines for testing only would be preferable to those using such cell lines for ongoing production.
- However, such choices may not be possible, especially in the early stages of vaccine distribution. In that case, one can receive any of the clinically recommended vaccines in good conscience with the assurance that receipt of such vaccines does not imply immoral cooperation in abortion.
- The Vatican issued a statement in mid-December 2020 saying it is okay to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, even if the investigation involved fetal tissue.
- The Orthodox Jewish Union and the Rabbinical Council of America also issued guidance at the time, encouraging COVID-19 vaccination.
- An important consideration for some Jewish and Muslim people is whether the vaccines are halal, since pork has been in jelly in other vaccines.
- Spokespersons for Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have said that pork products are not part of their COVID-19 vaccines.
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