vaccines
NIH director: We asked God for help with COVID-19, and vaccines are the ‘answer to that prayer’
By Jack Jenkins — June 15, 2021
WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘This is about saving lives,’ NIH Director Francis Collins told RNS.
With Pope Francis’ blessing, Catholics pressed Biden White House to waive vaccine patents
By Claire Giangravé and Jack Jenkins — May 10, 2021
(RNS) — 'Pope Francis is very involved,' said the Rev. Augusto Zampini, one of the directors of the Vatican’s COVID-19 Commission.
Survey: Faith leaders key to combat vaccine hesitancy among religious — and QAnon believers
By Jack Jenkins — April 22, 2021
(RNS) — Faith-based approaches to combating vaccine hesitancy could be crucial to achieving herd immunity.
Franklin Graham unfazed after evangelical base blasts him for encouraging vaccines
By Yonat Shimron — March 26, 2021
(RNS) — Graham's March 24 Facebook post uncovered a deep divide among evangelicals, many of whom are suspicious of COVID-19 vaccines. His organization, Samaritan's Purse, is managing vaccine clinics in Boone, North Carolina.
Black Protestants aren’t least likely to get a vaccine; white evangelicals are
By Yonat Shimron — March 5, 2021
(RNS) — A new survey by Pew Research shows that 64% of Black Protestants 'definitely or probably' plan to get vaccinated, compared to 54% of white evangelicals.
Dave Ramsey’s new crusade: Ending COVID-19 mask orders
By Bob Smietana — March 5, 2021
(RNS) — Dave Ramsey, the Christian financial guru, has long been a skeptic of COVID-19 restrictions, saying that he and his company will not be ruled by fear.
New Orleans archdiocese urges Catholics to avoid new Johnson & Johnson vaccine
By Jack Jenkins — March 1, 2021
(RNS) — The archdiocese said the vaccine is 'morally compromised' because it utilized cells with a decades-old link to an aborted fetus.
Evangelical Christian and Orthodox Jewish leaders offer spaces for vaccine distribution
By Jack Jenkins — January 27, 2021
(RNS) — Getting a shot in familiar terrain ‘could help minimize vaccine hesitancy,’ said Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union.
With vaccines on the horizon, faith leaders could play a crucial role in promoting their use
By Jack Jenkins — December 10, 2020
(RNS) — Asked about his participation in the Moderna vaccine trial, Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld replied, ‘It’s the most important sermon I’ve ever given — by far.’
Stay home, evangelical medical organization tells churches as COVID spreads
By Bob Smietana — November 20, 2020
(RNS) — A leading association of evangelical doctors says in-person church 'should not become an idol by itself.'
Religious vaccine exemption bill stokes controversy in Connecticut
By Jack Jenkins — February 21, 2020
(RNS) — Some demonstrators wore stickers that read ‘My Faith says Do No Harm.’
New York ends religious exemption to vaccine mandates
By The Associated Press — June 14, 2019
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The measure follows this year's measles outbreak , which federal officials recently said has surpassed 1,000 illnesses, the highest in 27 years.
Faith is no excuse for skipping vaccines, says med school professor
By Bob Smietana — February 28, 2019
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) — 'These are important times where religious leaders need to speak out on behalf of vaccines,' said Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine. 'We need an interfaith statement on vaccines.'
California governor signs vaccine law barring religious exemptions for most kids
By Liz Szabo — July 1, 2015
California children will no longer be able to skip the shots normally required to attend school because of their parents' religious or personal objections.
California Senate votes to end ‘personal belief’ exemption for vaccines
By Reuters — May 15, 2015
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Unvaccinated children who do not have a medical exemption would have to study at home or in organized, private home-schooling groups.
