The Catholic Church is the latest global organization to throw its hat into the ring in an effort to encourage the world population to get a coronavirus vaccine.

In a joint statement released on Friday, the Vatican’s bioethics academy and the World Medical Association vowed to correct “myths and disinformation” that are leading to vaccine hesitancy among many people worldwide.


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The statement goes on to address that in many countries where vaccine hesitancy is high, it is only so because of inequalities that have taken place throughout history that have led to suspicion growing toward pharmaceutical companies, according to the Associated Press.

In this Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 file photo, people are reflected on a puddle as they walk in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican.
In this Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 file photo, people are reflected on a puddle as they walk in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Despite this, the statement focuses on “a more pernicious form” of vaccine hesitancy being exacerbated by fake news and misinformation about the vaccine and its side effects. The statement specifically made mention of religious groups where hesitancy toward the vaccine is more common.

The two groups demanded that “all relevant stakeholders exhaust all efforts to ... confront vaccine hesitancy by sending a clear message about the safety and necessity of vaccines and counteracting vaccine myths and disinformation.”

Further calls are also made for vaccine equity, ensuring that even the most impoverished nations have equal access to vaccines.


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The statement came after webinar that focused on vaccines, sponsored by the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life, the World Medical Association, and the German Medical Association.

“We are physicians. We represent physicians. And we are bound to science and to evidence-based medicine,” said Dr. Ramin Parsa-Parsi, head of international affairs for the German Medical Association, in response to a question about vaccine safety from conservative Catholic media outlets.

Many Catholics, including some U.S. bishops believe that the COVID-19 vaccine is immoral due to some of the research tools used when developing vaccines came from aborted fetuses.

However, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in December that the vaccine was “morally acceptable” with Pope Francis adding that there was a “moral responsibility” to get vaccinated. While the pope did not say it was an obligation, the pope criticized the “suicidal negativism” for those who refuse to get a shot.