Pope Francis: COVID-19 Vaccination 'Moral Obligation'

In his yearly address on Monday, Pope Francis said that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus was a "moral obligation," and that inpiduals had been influenced by "false information" to deny one of the most efficient ways to save lives, according to "euronews".

In an address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, in which he takes stock of the globe and sets out the Vatican's foreign policy priorities for the year, the Pope used some of his most forceful remarks yet, urging people to get vaccinated.

Although his COVID-19 advisory council has referred to vaccination as a "moral responsibility," Francis, 85, has traditionally avoided speaking about it as a "moral imperative."

Vaccination, Francis has said, is "an act of love," and refusing to get immunised is "suicidal."

In a formal speech on Monday, he went even farther, saying that inpiduals had a responsibility to care for themselves "This translates into consideration for the health of those in our immediate vicinity. It is a moral obligation to provide health care "he stated emphatically.

Increasing "ideological differences," he said, were deterring inpiduals from getting immunised.

"People are frequently affected by current ideologies, which are often strengthened by false information or badly researched facts," he stated.

"Vaccines are not a miracle cure," he noted, "but they do represent, in addition to other treatments that must be developed, the most plausible approach for disease prevention."

Some Catholics, especially conservative US bishops and cardinals, have contended that vaccines based on research involving cells taken from aborted babies are unethical and have refused to take the vaccine.

Based on studies that used cells generated from aborted babies, the Vatican's doctrinal office has said it is "morally acceptable" for Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have received full vaccinations from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Francis reiterated his appeal for universal access to vaccines, particularly in areas of the world where immunisation rates are low, as well as changes to patent laws to allow poorer countries to produce their own vaccines.

"It is appropriate that institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization modify their legal tools," he stated, "lest monopolistic norms become additional hurdles to global manufacturing and organised and consistent access to healthcare."