UK Approves Use of Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 Vaccine

The UK this week granted emergency approval for Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine which would allow distribution to begin next week. The company's Phase 3 trial shows the vaccine was 95% effective in preventing infections. The UK has ordered 40 million doses and it is expected that elderly in care homes, health workers, and other vulnerable populations will be first in line to receive the vaccine. Pfizer is currently awaiting approval for its vaccine in the US, after submitting its request to the Food and Drug Administration on November 20. 

Some have had questions as to whether the Pfizer vaccine (along with the Moderna vaccine also submitted for FDA approval) was morally produced, and whether their use is morally permissible. Bishop Kevin Rhodes, Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Bishop Joseph Naumann, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, recently issued guidance to the U.S. bishops clarifying the moral permissibility of utilizing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and have made such guidance public.  The bishops of Missouri also recently provided guidance on COVID-19 vaccines. We encourage all of our members to review both documents.