Confused about the ethical questions related to vaccines? Below are a series of links, in chronological order within each section, that explore what the ethical issues are, and how to resolve them (if they can be resolved at this time).
Medical / Science side:
COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates and Abortion-Derived Cell Lines (December 14, 2020):
https://lozierinstitute.org/
Backgrounders /Summaries / Briefings:
Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Fetuses - A Statement of the Catholic Medical Association (May 2006?):
https://mycatholicdoctor.com/
NCBC - FAQ on the use of vaccines (2019):
https://www.ncbcenter.org/
Measles, Mumps, and Religious Freedom: Mandatory Vaccination and the Limits of Parental Rights (JUNE 23, 2019):
https://www.
It’s Unethical to Use Fetal Tissue in COVID-19 Research (APRIL 22, 2020):
https://www.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Use of Foetal Cell-lines (April 27, 2020):
http://www.bioethics.org.uk/
Moral Guidance on Using COVID-19 Vaccines Developed with Human Fetal Cell Lines (MAY 26, 2020):
https://www.
Research Using Cells of Illicit Origin and Vaccines from Fetal Tissue (MAY 27, 2020):
https://www.
Ethical Principles for the Just Allocation of a COVID-19 Vaccine (AUGUST 31, 2020):
https://www.
Clarifying Fetal Tissue Policy Contradictions (OCTOBER 28, 2020):
https://www.
The FAQs: Are Fetal Cells Being Used in COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments? (NOVEMBER 18, 2020):
https://www.
The Catholic Answer to Vaccines (December 1, 2020):
https://mycatholicdoctor.com/
Points to Consider on the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines (December 8, 2020):
https://static1.squarespace.
Moral Guidance on Covid-19 Vaccines (Diocese of Spokane):
https://www.dioceseofspokane.org/guidance-on-covid-19-vaccines
A Deeper Dive Into Catholic Bioethics and Vaccines (Diocese of Spokane):
https://www.dioceseofspokane.org/more-covid-19-vaccine-ethics
Articles in Favor of Moral Permissibility of Using Certain Vaccines:
Is Receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Ethical? (NOVEMBER 15, 2020):
https://www.
Vaccines and Doubly Remote Cooperation in Evil (NOVEMBER 22, 2020):
https://www.
Why We Plan to Get Vaccinated: A Christian Moral Perspective (DECEMBER 8, 2020):
https://www.
12 Things Less Remote Cooperation in Evil Than COVID Vaccines (DECEMBER 18, 2020):
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/throughcatholiclenses/2020/12/12-things-less-remote-cooperation-in-evil-than-covid-vaccines/
A corrective to the Schneider statement (see below in Articles Against) on the COVID vaccines (DECEMBER 18, 2020):
https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/corrective-to-schneider-statement-on-covid-vaccines/
The Morality of the COVID-19 Vaccines (December 24, 2020):
https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/the-morality-of-the-covid-19-vaccines
Articles Against:
Measuring Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine: Now’s the Time to Press Hard for Ethical Options (November 20, 2020):
https://www.ncregister.com/
Covid Vaccines: ‘The Ends Cannot Justify the Means’, by Bishop Athanasius Schneider (December 11, 2020):
https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/covid-vaccines-the-ends-cannot-justify-the-means
Church Documents:
CDF - Donum Vitae (1987)
http://www.vatican.va/roman_
Pontifical Academy of Life - Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived from Aborted Human Foetuses (2005)
https://www.catholicculture.
CDF - Dignitas Personae (2008)
http://www.vatican.va/roman_
USCCB - Conscience Exemption for Vaccines based on Fetal Tissue from Abortions (2015):
https://mycatholicdoctor.com/
Pontifical Academy of Life - Note on Italian vaccine issue (2017)
http://www.academyforlife.va/
USCCB memo (November 20, 2020):
https://www.usccb.org/
Cardinal DiNardo - On the Moral Permissibility of Recently Announced Vaccines for COVID-19 (DECEMBER 8, 2020):
https://www.archgh.org/news-
USCCB - MORAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE NEW COVID-19 VACCINES (December 11, 2020):
https://www.usccb.org/moral-
CDF - Note on the morality of using some anti-Covid-19 vaccines (December 21, 2020):
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20201221_nota-vaccini-anticovid_en.html
updated 2-1-2021/jwk