The Church facing Covid-19

Pontifical Academy for Life: No to 'vaccine nationalism', immunisation is a common good

A technician fills a syringe with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at the corona vaccination centre, Germany (AFP or licensors)

The Pontifical Academy for Life stresses the importance of overcoming "vaccine nationalism" so that everyone can have the opportunity of being vaccinated and nobody is left behind in the fight against Covid-19.

By Vatican News staff writer

Opening its statement, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life warns that "Faced with the very serious problems that are arising in relation to the production and distribution of the vaccine for Covid-19", identifying suitable syatems for transparency and collaboration has become an "urgency".  

"There is too much antagonism and competition and the risk of severe injustices", reads the statement.

Signed by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life and Msgr Renzo Pegoraro, Chancellor, the statement recalls Pope Francis' "urgent request" in his Urbi et Orbi Message, on Christmas day: "I ask everyone – government leaders, businesses, international organizations – to foster cooperation and not competition, and to seek a solution for everyone: vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet. Before all others: the most vulnerable and needy!”

These words, continues the statement, "require responsible listening on the part of all men and women of good will".

Special document

The statement goes on to recall a joint document, released on 29 December by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the …

This article was originally published by The Vatican News. Please click here to read the full text.