Catholics Urged To Avoid J&J Vaccine If Possible

PITTSBURGH — (WPXI)- The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is urging area Catholics to choose the Pfizer, Moderna vaccine over Johnson and Johnson, if given the choice, over concerns of using vaccines developed with the help of abortion-derived cells. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine and Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued a statement Tuesday saying the vaccine “raises questions about the moral permissibility of using vaccines developed, tested, and/or produced with the help of abortion-derived cell lines.” “Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines raised concerns because an abortion-derived cell line was used for testing them, but not in their production. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines raising additional moral concerns. Therefore, if one has the ability to choose a vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson’s,” according to the statement. The Diocese of Pittsburgh shares the sentiments of the USCCB on this issue, according to officials with the Diocese.