A Christian Perspective on the COVID Vaccines
COVID vaccines have not only brought a sense of hope, but also many questions. Is it truly safe after such a quick timetable for development? Will it actually be effective and for how long? Are there ethical issues involved in the creation of the vaccines that Christians should know about?
In his role as director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins oversees the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world. He is also a committed Christian. In Today’s Conversation podcast, you’ll hear Dr. Collins and NAE President Walter Kim discuss:
- The integration of faith, science and health;
- How vaccines actually affect the body;
- The manufacturing process and ethics behind vaccinations; and
- What role pastors and Christians should play during the pandemic.
Christians & the Vaccines
At Christians & the Vaccine, you’ll find a video series addressing the most common spiritual questions Christians have regarding the vaccine. There is also a Pastor’s Toolkit on the Vaccine to help pastors shepherd their congregations on this complex issue. And, we are working on short video conversations with key Christian leaders providing their unique perspective and guidance.
Christians & the Vaccine is a project of Redeeming Babel in partnership with the NAE, COVID Collaborative, the Ad Council, Values Partnerships and Public Square Strategies. Our goal is to equip pastors and Christian leaders to help others apply biblical principles to this topic.
View the Resource
Vaccine Access
Here are three vaccine tools to bring to your communities now:
Web
Visit vaccines.gov (English) or vacunas.gov (Spanish) to search and find a vaccine near you.
Text
Text GETVAX (438829) for English or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish to receive three vaccine sites on your phone within seconds.
Phone
Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline at 1-800-232-0233 for those who prefer to get information via phone call.
Trusted Voices on COVID Vaccines
In this video, NAE President Walter Kim considers COVID-19 vaccines an answer to prayer. He shares why he got the vaccine and how that act of faith is an expression of loving our neighbors.
Will Evangelical Leaders Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine?
According to the January Evangelical Leaders Survey, an overwhelming majority (95 percent) of evangelical leaders said they would receive a COVID-19 vaccination when it becomes available to them. This is much higher than the general public in which roughly a quarter are reluctant to get the vaccine. A very high percentage (89 percent) of evangelical leaders also said they would encourage others to get the vaccine.
NAE President Walter Kim said, “While some have concerns about the newness of the vaccine, possible side effects or efficacy, a careful look at the science behind the vaccines is convincing and the Christian ethic to love is compelling.”
Read the Survey Summary
Toolkit for Faith Communities
About the COVID-19 Vaccines
The Ad Council and Values Partnership created toolkits designed to help faith leaders, especially in Black and Latino communities, facilitate critical conversations about COVID-19 vaccines. Many questions may arise, and these resources will help pastors and church leaders feel empowered to inform church members and families.
Get the ToolkitBecoming a Vaccination Clinic
We Can Do This is a campaign to help make vaccinations as accessible as possible to your local communities. This toolkit provides a roadmap for community organizations, employers and other groups to work directly with vaccine providers to set up vaccination clinics in places people know and trust.
Get the ToolkitVaccine Q&A with Doctors from CMDA
In this Facebook live conversation, doctors from the Christian Medical & Dental Association answered questions about the vaccines. The talk was hosted by Curtis Chang of ChristiansAndTheVaccine.com, and co-sponsored by the NAE, Ad Council, COVID Collaborative, Values Partnerships, Public Square Initiatives, and Redeeming Babel.
Articles
- Fight Conspiracy Theories and Welcome the Vaccines | The Washington Post | Russell Moore & Walter Kim
- COVID-19 Vaccine: The Faith Community Is Ready to Partner With the Government | USA Today | Rabbi Moshe Hauer and Walter Kim
FAQs
- Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 | We Can Do This Campaign
- Pastor’s Toolkit FAQs on the COVID Vaccine | Christians and the Vaccine
- Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre COVID-19/Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 (Spanish) | Ad Council
Other Resources
- Town Hall on Evangelicals and the COVID-19 Vaccine | Humanitarian Disaster Institute | Dr. Francis Collins, Timothy Dalrymple, Russell Moore, Jamie Aten and Kent Annan
- The Religion Community’s Role in Managing COVID-19 | Council on Foreign Relations | Jacqueline J. Lewis, Melissa Rogers and Walter Kim
- The Fight Against Evangelical Vaccine Hesitancy | The Washington Post | Drea Cornejo
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