The Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo, Most Reverend James A. Tamayo, joins his voice in solidarity with a statement issued on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

“The approval of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in the United States again 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.” 

Bishop Tamayo is well aware of the great suffering and death our world has experienced due to the coronavirus. He realizes that the availability of vaccines is limited, so for health reasons, and as an act of charity toward others, Bishop Tamayo urges everyone to be vaccinated at the first available opportunity—regardless of which vaccine is offered.