Jefferson City Diocese tells Catholics to use any coronavirus shot that is available
EDITOR'S NOTE: The headline has been corrected to say Jefferson City Diocese.
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KMIZ)
The Catholic bishop in Jefferson City and the city's Catholic hospital are encouraging residents to get any coronavirus shot that is available.
Shawn McKnight, bishop of the Jefferson City Diocese, said in a statement Thursday that Catholics should use any coronavirus vaccine provided to them.
"In the current situation of a pandemic, Catholics may in good conscience utilize any of the vaccines currently available, even those derived in an unethical manner, to protect themselves, as well as to avoid the serious risk to vulnerable persons and to society resulting from remaining unvaccinated," McKnight said in the statement.
"If a person concludes he or she cannot be vaccinated, whether for health reasons or if their own moral analysis is different from the Church, they are morally obliged to do everything they can to prevent transmission of the coronavirus and avoid any risk to the health of those who cannot be vaccinated."
The statement came out as Cole County health and government leaders were wrapping up a weekly conference call about the coronavirus pandemic. On the call, Dr. Lenora Adams with SSM St. Mary's Hospital said people should take whatever vaccine is available.
Some bishops have told Catholics to favor other vaccines because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a stem cell line derived from aborted fetal tissue. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccine also use stem cells derived from aborted fetal tissue during the preliminary laboratory testing process, but not during the manufacturing of the vaccines; whereas Johnson & Johnson does. The Vatican has said taking such vaccines is morally acceptable.
Watch a replay of the Cole County meeting in the player below.
St. Mary's received 1,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Tuesday. The hospital says it plans to collaborate with the health department, Capital Region Medical Center and local health systems to administer all vaccine doses within 10 days.
The Cole County Health Department is also preparing for a mass vaccination clinic for county educators. Cole County Health Department's Director Kristi Campbell announced the health department will partner with the Missouri National Guard for another mass vaccination clinic at the Linc in Jefferson City on March 19.
The Missouri National Guard plans to administer 2,300 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Campbell says Cole County school staff members will be first priority to receive a vaccine at this clinic. Vaccines will be administered to school staff members first, remaining doses will be given to registered individuals that are eligible to receive a vaccine.
School staff members and those that are eligible to receive a vaccine under the state's distribution plan are asked to get registered on the state's vaccine navigator site. The clinic will only allow those who are registered to receive a vaccine at this event.
A second clinic is scheduled at the Linc on April 9, to administer the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine to those who received their first dose at the March 19 clinic.
Cole County has been considered a leader among Mid-Missouri in coronavirus vaccinations. The county is within the top 20 of Missouri counties for the amount of its vaccinated population. According to the state's data over 18% of Cole County residents have received a vaccine.
As of Wednesday, the health department reported 7,924 COVID-19 cases and 111 COVID-19 related deaths since March 16, 2020.
