Most recently, Reverend Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, wrote on Facebook,  “Jesus Christ would advocate for people using vaccines and medicines to treat suffering and save lives.” Rev. Franklin Graham’s father, Rev. Billy Graham, also supported Christians partaking in modern medicine, including vaccination.

 

Rev. Franklin Graham has continued to work to expand COVID relief to Christians. His philanthropic organization opened a field hospital in New York in April 2020 to combat hospital bed shortages and overcapacity. Now, Graham has spoken out in support of the COVID-19 vaccine, stating, “If you wait, it could be too late.” Both the Reverend and his wife have been vaccinated. His message to others: “I want people to know that COVID-19 can kill you.”

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Rev. Russell Moore, devout evangelical and prominent conservative, told Christians that, while he supports their decision to choose whether or not to vaccinate, there is no part of the Christian faith that should keep them from vaccinating.  Invoking the “Golden Rule”, Rev. Russell Moore explains, “this [COVID-19 vaccine] is something that’s in not only our own best interests, but also in that of our neighbors.” If people do not wish to get vaccinated for themselves, to do it for others Rev. Moore hopes that by speaking out publicly, he inspires Christians to dismiss disinformation about the vaccine and realize that the vaccine is our best way of showing compassion to one another during the pandemic.  

 

In response to the disinformation targeting faith communities about the vaccine, evangelical leaders are stepping up to provide resources to pastors and faith leaders on how to best talk about vaccines with their communities. 

 

The Christians and the Vaccine project is aimed to help Christian communities with their questions, while the “Pastor’s Toolkit” is a great overview for pastors and Christian leaders who feel ill-equipped to address the COVID-19 vaccine questions from their congregations: Is the vaccine safe? Can Christians be pro-life and still take the vaccine? Can Black Americans trust the vaccine? Is the vaccine the "Mark of the Beast"? Is the vaccine a form of government control?