Vaccines are ‘best tool’ to beat Covid: Derry Bishop

The Bishop of Derry says everyone must work together to “exit” from what he described as “these very damaging COVID circumstances”.

Dr McKeown says the development of vaccines has generated hope that society can move beyond the “very painful” lockdowns and restrictions of the last 10 months.

“People of all ages have been negatively affected by the closure of schools, businesses, leisure activities and churches,” he said.

“Over the next weeks and months, many people will be offered one of the growing number of available vaccines. These vaccines form a key part of the public strategy for combating the virus, protecting human life, public health and returning society to a more normal way of life.”

Bishop McKeown said he appreciated that some people have concerns about connections between some vaccines and cell lines originally derived from aborted babies.

“However, Church guidance at universal and national level is clear,” he said. “In the context of the concrete realities that we face, the Irish Bishops have stated that they ‘are encouraging Catholics to support a programme of vaccination, not only for their own good, but for the protection of life and the health of those who are vulnerable and for the common good of humanity.’”

It’s understood several vaccine candidates were developed using cells derived from foetuses aborted decades ago.

However, no foetal cells are present in any of the vaccines.