Page 76 - Vaccines

The scale of the coronavirus pandemic, the numerous variants more or
less virulent or contagious of the virus, deaths which in some countries
match or exceed the number killed in the Second World War, health
systems or intensive care departments even in developed countries
under severe strain, varied lockdowns, quarantines and other enduring
restrictions upon whole populations, are all evidence of a global crisis
which persists after almost eighteen months since early 2020.
The enormous fearunleashed by anew and suddenpandemic ofthe kind
and nature now being experienced is one factor which inspires scientific
and medicalexperts tosearch forpossible curesand fora possiblevaccine
to reduce, avert and counter-act the contagion.
The moralissues atstake herecannot bereduced toquestions ofsafety and
efficacy, nor even to matters of equitable distribution and access to vac-
cines once they are approved. Nor can the principles of the social doctrine
of the Church be invoked as if all could be reduced to them, important as
they are as key criteria of justice in this, as in other spheres of life.
What is offered in this brief assessment avoids scandalous compromises
with what is of its nature immoral, and, I believe, may be followed with
confidence by those Catholics and others of good will who may be per-
plexed about this very delicate moral issue.

FR. G.J. WOODALL isa priestof thediocese ofNottingham inEngland, with
degrees in History (Manchester University), moral theology (Pontifical
Gregorian University, Rome) and canon law (University of Marc Bloch,
Strasbourg). He is currently ordinary professor of moral theology at the
Pontifical Athenaeum, Regina Apostolorum, Rome, invited lecturer in
moral theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum),
Rome, occasional lecturer in moral theology at the Maryvale Institute,
Birmingham, and occasional lecturer in canon law at the International
Theological Institute at Trumau, Austria, as well as being a judge of the
diocesan tribunal of Nottingham. He has published books and articles in
both moral theology and canon law.

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