Tagline for writer: EUREKA

Superspreader of Fear

Religion is not an excuse to promote the anti-vaccine movement in a country where the majority
are Catholics.

By scrolling through social media, it is customary to see insights from netizens that say COVID-
19 is God’s divine ordained message to tell the world to change, especially in the comment
section of vaccine-related posts. These anti-vaxxers believe they are going against the will of
God and the government is depriving their choice of freedom. They believe that this pandemic is
only natural, and it will just go away if they remain faithful to the higher being.

Reading this outdated ideology is highly frustrating, knowing that the country is racing towards
achieving herd immunity. Faith alone and citing Bible verses in social media will not guarantee
one’s safety against the virus. It is nothing but selfishness, making everyone around them
susceptible to getting infected.

According to the teachings of the church, one must love their neighbor as they love themselves.
But isn’t being self-centered a sin based on Romans 2:8? The verse states, “But for those who are
self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” If a
religious anti-vaxxer can read this, they will have a taste of their own medicine.

It is not the first time that vaccines have received backlash from religious entities. Dating back to
1796, after Edward Jenner developed the first immunization, many clergy members opposed its
use as it “acts against God’s will.” Because of this, religious concerns about immunization from
vaccines branched out in many parts of the globe.

Although studies show few canonical bases for the denial of vaccination in major religions, a
scholarly article in 2013 from Merck reported that the reasons for the decline in immunization
revolve around safety issues or personal beliefs in a social network organized around a faith
community. In the Philippines, where more than 86% are Catholics, if religious people propagate
fear and misinformation that can influence the masses through their social media platforms, it
leads to negative implications. One short post using Catholicism to justify their distaste for
vaccines is harmful. Bandwagon can easily sway the mass and the less informed citizens.

For Catholics still doubting whether the vaccines trample one’s belief, the Vatican’s doctrinal
office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), stated that it is “morally
acceptable” to get a jab against the virus. CDF also reiterated that Catholics are fulfilling a
common good to protect themselves, the weakest and the most vulnerable. The Pope himself also
encourages everyone to partake in the mass immunization. For him, it is an act of love to get
vaccinated, and it is a symbol of hope in this time of a pandemic.

Those who do not understand the Catholic teachings well see their religion as a reward and
punishment system ー often fueled by fear. Many believers tend to believe that they will go to
heaven if they follow the will of the higher being and go to hell if they do otherwise. But they
seem to forget that it is not always about themselves, and one’s salvation also involves being
considerate and responsible to the people around them.
Vaccine hesitancy is a massive hindrance in bringing the country back on track. Misinformation,
fake news, conspiracy theories, and propaganda fuel this ongoing problem. Continuous
information and education campaigns about COVID-19 vaccines are needed to combat this issue
and a people-centered health paradigm.

In the end, it still boils down to one thing. People have the right to choose not to get a dose of
immunization; it is their free will. But in the time of a crisis, it’s beautiful to see Bayanihan
emerge by keeping oneself immunized and helping your country in flattening the curve.

If you choose not to get vaccinated, at least avoid being a vehicle for transmission of the virus.
And please refrain from using religion to promote anti-vaccination.

Be a Catholic by heart, not just on paper.

References:
https://theconversation.com/christian-nationalism-is-a-barrier-to-mass-vaccination-against-
covid-19-158023
https://www.bworldonline.com/vaccine-hesitancy-still-a-major-challenge-experts-say/
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-08/pope-francis-appeal-covid-19-vaccines-act-
of-love.html
https://www.vox.com/2019/6/19/18681930/religion-vaccine-refusal
https://www.cacatholic.org/CCC-vaccine-moral-acceptability
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/801419/are-face-shields-effective-against-
covid-19-wind-engineer-explains/story/
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/9/22/Duterte-no-more-face-shields.html