Most religious denominations in Ukraine are willing to cooperate with the Ministry of Health on the issue of mass vaccination of the population, and it’s only the Moscow Patriarchate that has been spreading anti-vaccination sentiments.
The ROCinU does not communicate with the Ministry of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin said in an interview with Glavkom.
“We have noticed this trend (with the spread of anti-vaccination sentiment) as regards the Moscow Patriarchate. The main focus of the Ministry of Health is now to work with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches. A joint statement of the organization and the Ministry of Health on the need for vaccination has already been issued. There were several rounds of appeals issued by leaders and representatives of various denominations to their believers regarding vaccination. Vaccination centers are being opened in temples, for example, those of the UGCC. That is, other denominations are most involved in this campaign, including in remote villages. There are pilot projects: it is the churches in regions that help, including investigating coronavirus outbreaks. If we talk about the Moscow Patriarchate, we see problems in communicating with them. This is an urgent and problematic issue for us,” Kuzin stressed.
The chief sanitary doctor also noted that most members of religious denominations are interested in circulating information to raise awareness about vaccination among believers.
“The Council of Churches often asks for more information to keep their believers aware: including information on where to go and how to ask for help. Believers often ask of the updated evidence base regarding the effectiveness of vaccines or their composition,” said Kuzin.
It should be recalled that the ROCinU supported a rally of anti-vaxxers on the day when 720 COVID-19 patients died across Ukraine. The chief of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra also reflected, addressing ROCinU believers, on the issue of vaccination, claiming that all was poisoned. At the same time, the OCU churches in Zaporizhia have welcomed the idea of opening vaccination points on their premises.
