KCCB Chairman Reverend Philip Anyolo {Photo: Nation]
March, 10th 2021 – The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has urged Kenyans to take the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID vaccine.
The Bishops says that the jab signifies a moral responsibility to stop the spread of the disease. They also said that taking the vaccine is a voluntary decision, but warned those who decline it of the dangers of the virus.
KCCB Chairman Reverend Philip Anyolo, urged the Health Ministry to take all necessary steps, to affirm to the public that the vaccines are safe and effective.
In a statement, Anyolo said, “We the Catholic bishops in Kenya make it clear that the recent statement from Kenya Catholic Doctors Association (KCDA) was made by the doctors in their own capacity and not on behalf of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. It must be understand that those doctors cannot and should not purport to speak in the name of the Catholic Church.”
He also added that those who will not receive the vaccine should adhere to the containment measures so that they are not vessels for transmission.
He said, “We note that vaccination is not as a rule, an obligation, and therefore it can only be done on voluntary basis and at the discretion of an individual after giving informed consent. We therefore appeal to the consciences of Kenyans to accept the Covid-19 vaccines in light of the assurance given by the Ministry of Health.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) had said that the vaccines are an additional tool of protection. WHO added that the regulatory and scientific reviews of the drugs have not been compromised. WHO also said that it is safe as a recommended and effective tool against the virus
WHO said, “We appeal to the Kenyans that will receive this vaccine as part of the priority group to accept the vaccine as a recommended and effective tool against the virus.”
Earlier on, Doctors who profess the Catholic faith objected the exercise calling on faith-based organisations to stop the process. They cited that wearing of a facemask, screening of all symptomatic patients, treatment of those who have the virus and ensuring all patients with Covid-19 are observed for 10 to 14 days as the only proven means of controlling the spread of the virus.