Each person has different considerations when it comes to deciding whether or not they will receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Good Reasons to Wait
There are a number of valid reasons a person may choose to not get a COVID-19 vaccine.
There is a small number of people who medically cannot receive the vaccination. Their doctors gave them a legitimate medical reason for not receiving the vaccine.
Even though it is extremely unlikely that the vaccine will affect a woman’s fertility, someone may choose to wait to receive the vaccination until more data is available.
The vaccine is most likely safe during pregnancy and lactation and a number of organizations have advocated for these women to be able to receive the vaccine should they chose to do so. Some women may still feel uncomfortable and choose to wait until they have given birth and are finished breastfeeding.
Perhaps despite the declaration that the vaccines are morally acceptable, your personal conscience has led you to feel that you cannot accept the vaccination.
Some may still be uneasy about how quickly scientists developed the vaccine even though they did so safely.
These are all valid reasons to not get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Bad Reasons
There are also bad reasons to choose to not be vaccinated against COVID-19. I would advise anyone who uses these reasons to do additional research using reputable sources.
- Thinking the pandemic is a scam
- Thinking that because they aren’t in a high-risk group, they don’t need to worry about COVID-19
- Believing conspiracy theories about the vaccine (population control, microchipping, etc.)
Responsibility
Those who choose to not vaccinate have a responsibility to protect their community.
Those who, however, for reasons of conscience, refuse vaccines produced with cell lines from aborted fetuses, must do their utmost to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate behavior, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infectious agent. In particular, they must avoid any risk to the health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and who are the most vulnerable.
Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
What this means is that if you decide to not be vaccinated, you have an obligation to protect your neighbor in other ways.
Yes, it can be said, the Congregation does not say we must take the vaccine. But they say we must do what we can for the common good, with the implication that for most of us, that means, we should take the vaccine when we are able to do so. And if we don’t, we must do whatever else we can to save others from the horrors of COVID19.
The Vatican Said We Don’t Have To Take A COVID19 Vaccine? by Henry Karlson
These include wearing masks, practicing social distancing, limiting the number of people they come in contact with, etc.
You also cannot tell other Catholics that they must refuse vaccination.
So, no, refusal of these vaccines for reasons of conscience is not dissent. But, while refusing vaccination is not dissent, teaching that other Catholics must refuse vaccination is. In fact, it is more than dissent, which is not itself sinful; it is causing scandal, which certainly is.
How to Vaccinate Like a Catholic: A Guide Through the Prickly COVID-19 Issues by Brett Salkeld
Making the decision to vaccinate or not is a challenging one. There are so many aspects to consider. I understand that there is hesitancy due to the newness and the ethical implications. Please make a prayerful and informed decision about whether or not you will get a vaccine once it is made available to you.
Regardless of what you choose, please protect yourself and your neighbors. Pray for those impacted by COVID-19.
We will make it through this.
