Love your neighbour and get vaccinated against coronavirus, say Church of Ireland Archbishops

In a joint statement, the Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell and Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson said: “We believe, as Christians, that it is our civic obligation and duty to serve others and to love our neighbours as ourselves.

“‘We encourage all Church of Ireland members to take up the opportunity offered by the Covid-19 vaccination programmes currently being rolled out across the island of Ireland.”

The joint statement continued: “‘Vaccination against Covid-19 helps to protect individuals in our communities by preventing and reducing illness and death caused by the virus. In the past, vaccines have made a significant difference in society, and they continue to do so. The Covid-19 vaccines are already bringing hope and a possibility of a return to relative normality, and should be made available globally as a priority.

‘The Church of Ireland has, throughout the pandemic, advocated following public health advice from trusted sources, including the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland and Health and Social Care services in Northern Ireland. All who have questions about vaccination are encouraged to consult those sources of information and discuss their questions with health professionals.’

The latest statistics from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland show that 655,643 vaccinations administered by March 11, of which 606,659 were first doses.

In the Republic of Ireland, 536,617 total doses had been administered by March 8, of which 382,528 were first doses.