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Religious Belief Exception Educational Resources

If you have requested, or plan to request, an exception to University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy (available at https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/SARS-Cov-2) based on a religious objection, we would like to share the following information with you.

These resources are organized by issue: religions are listed alphabetically, followed by related issues at the end. Please scroll to find the issue(s) that are relevant to your beliefs.

Visit the FDA website at https://www.fda.gov/ for more information regarding authorized and approved vaccines.

While your request is pending, and if your request is granted, you must comply with non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., masking, testing, quarantining) as set forth in the Policy, Section III.A.2 and FAQ 16

AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA

  • American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is proud to be a founding member of the national volunteer COVID-19 Community Corps, which encourages people to get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as it is available to them.  You can read ABCUSA’s COVID-19 Information and Resources here: http://www.abc-usa.org/coronavirus/
  • You can read about the COVID-19 Community Corps (The Corps, launched in April 2021, has nearly 17,000 members, including individuals and organizations big and small, in communities all around the country. We’re growing every day as vaccinating as many people as possible becomes even more critical to our nation’s health, communities, and economy.) here: https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/covidcommunitycorps

AUTONOMOUS ORTHODOX

(Sinai, Finland, Estonia, Japan, China, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Ohrid). 

  • The National Council of Churches (NCC) is a diverse covenant community of 38 member communions and over 35 million individuals in 100,000 congregations, including Orthodox traditions.  NCC encourages churches to help their members get vaccinated against COVID-19.  You can read the NCC’s Resources on COVID-19 for Churches here: http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/resources-on-covid-19-for-churches/

BUDDHISM

CATHOLICISM

CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST

  • The Christian Science Monitor published a Christian Science perspective on vaccines that states, “If we were to encounter a situation where vaccination was required, our compliance with the law wouldn’t need to compromise our reliance upon God.  New vaccines may have the prospect of altering the landscape of disease, but they can’t lead the way up and out of the material sense of life that is always producing new forms of disease.  To find true and lasting health, we need to see that life is actually in and of Spirit, not material at all.”  https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/A-Christian-Science-Perspective/2021/0128/Vaccines-immunity-and-the-pathway-to-health

CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS/MORMONISM

CHRISTIAN

  • The Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) issued an Ethics Statement on Vaccines and Immunizations here: https://cmda.org/policy-issues-home/position-statements/ (scroll down to “Vaccines and Immunization”).  According to that statement, which addresses biblical, historical, medical, and ethical considerations, “Immunization benefits the health of both individuals and the broader community.”
  • For additional resources on biblical thinking about the COVID vaccine, visit www.christiansandthevaccine.com.  Christians & the Vaccine has “gathered as a coalition to provide information about the vaccine from trusted Christian voices” and “make[s] the case that Christians should take the vaccine.”

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

  • The Disciples of Christ provides information and resources about how to locate a vaccination site and how to promote and support vaccination efforts.  You can read an article on Disciples and COVID-19 here: https://disciples.org/dns/disciples-and-covid-19/

EASTERN ORTHODOX

  • The Orthodox Observer published a statement signed by Archbishop Elpidophoros, Chairman, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Metropolitan Joseph, Vice-Chairman, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; Archbishop Michael, Treasurer, Orthodox Church in America; Metropolitan Gregory, Secretary, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA; Bishop Irinej, Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central and South America; Metropolitan Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas; Metropolitan Joseph, Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia; Bishop Saba Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church in North America; Metropolitan Tikhon, Orthodox Church in America: “Scripture encourages us to respect and protect the body as the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19). At the same time, it discourages us from either tempting or testing the Lord (Matt. 4:7). And as your spiritual shepherds, we affirm and assure you that it is neither wrong nor sinful to seek medical attention and advice. In fact, we welcome interventions that provide us more time for spiritual renewal and repentance.”  https://www.goarch.org/-/vaccine-statement?inheritRedirect=true
  • The National Council of Churches (NCC) encourages churches to help their members get vaccinated against COVID-19.  The NCC is a diverse covenant community of 38 member communions and over 35 million individuals in 100,000 congregations, including Orthodox traditions.  You can read the NCC’s COVID-19 vaccine resources at: http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/resources-on-covid-19-for-churches/
  • The second-most senior Orthodox bishop in the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, urged all people of Russia to get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying their refusal to do so is akin to committing a sin:  Read more at: https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/russian-orthodox-leader-says-refusing-vaccine-is-a-sin/14631

EPISCOPAL

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY

HUMANISM

ISLAM

ISLAM – Shia

These citations from Islamic authorities state that it is permissible to get the COVID vaccine while fasting and describe when it can be permissible to break the fast if one feels unwell after receiving the vaccine:

ISLAM – FASTING

These citations from Islamic authorities state that it is permissible to get the COVID vaccine while fasting and describe when it can be permissible to break the fast if one feels unwell after receiving the vaccine:

JAINISM

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

  • According to JW.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, “Jehovah’s Witnesses are not opposed to vaccination.  We view vaccination as a personal decision for each Christian to make. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses choose to get vaccinated.”  You can read the full article here: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jw-vaccines-immunization/

JUDAISM

LUTHERAN

Native American Nation Tribes

ORIENTAL ORTHODOX

(Armenian Church of America, Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch)

  • The National Council of Churches (NCC) -- is a diverse covenant community of 38 member communions and over 35 million individuals in 100,000 congregations, including Orthodox traditions -- encourages churches to help their members get vaccinated against COVID-19.  You can read the NCC’s Resources on COVID-19 for Churches here: http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/resources-on-covid-19-for-churches/

PRESBYTERIAN

The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, says, “I believe being vaccinated is an important step in ending the suffering of so many in our nation and world.”  (Please see article here: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/pcusa-leadership-takes-part-in-covid-19-vaccination-effort/)  The article describes the vaccination of the Rev. Dr. Moffitt and the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

PROTESTANT

(including AME, AMEZ, Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist Churches USA, Amish, Anglican, Assemblies of God, Assyrian Church of the East, Church of the Brethren, CME, Community of Christ, Congregational, Disciples of Christ, Ecumenical Catholic Communion, Episcopal, Hungarian Reformed, Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad, Lutheran, Mar Thoma, Mennonite, Moravian Church in America, National Baptist Convention, Presbyterian, Quaker, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reformed Church in America, Southern Baptist Convention, Unitarian-Universalist, United Church of Christ, United Methodist (not a complete list))

  • The National Council of Churches (NCC) is a diverse covenant community of 38 member communions and over 35 million individuals in 100,000 congregations, including Protestant traditions.  NCC encourages churches to help their members get vaccinated against COVID-19.  You can read the NCC’s Resources on COVID-19 for Churches here: http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/resources-on-covid-19-for-churches/

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

  • The official website of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church states: “The Seventh-day Adventist Church places strong emphasis on health and well-being.  The Adventist health emphasis is based on biblical revelation, the inspired writing of E. G. White (co-founder of the Church), and on peer-reviewed scientific literature.  As such, we encourage responsible immunization/vaccination, and have no religious or faith-based reason not to encourage our adherents to responsibly participate in protective and preventive immunization programs.  We value the health and safety of the population, which includes the maintenance of ‘herd immunity.’”  You can read that here: https://www.adventist.org/guidelines/immunization/?_ga=2.216490078.930293552.1630361315-574889890.1630361315.
  • The Seventh-day Adventist Church states specifically with respect to the COVID-19 vaccine: “As we witness the global magnitude of the pandemic, the deaths, disability, and long-term COVID-19 effects that are emerging in all age groups, we are encouraging our members to consider responsible immunization and the promotion and facilitation of the development of what is commonly termed herd immunity . . . .” You can read the full article here: https://adventist.news/news/covid-19-vaccines-addressing-concerns-offering-counsel?_ga=2.124083273.2134040195.1630084325-1679064913.163008432

SIKHISM (INCLUDING SIKH DHARMA INTERNATIONAL)

WICCA

  • The CDC has explained that “Vaccination can reduce the spread of disease, which helps protect those who get vaccinated and the people around them.”  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/work.html 
  • Please consider this information in light of the Wiccan Rede that asks Wiccans to “review all of their possible choices and analyze the likely consequences of each option. Then they freely choose from among those actions that avoid harming anybody. Most Wiccans interpret the Rede as including harm to themselves as well as to another person or persons.”  https://www.religioustolerance.org/wicrede.htm

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

It is our understanding that none of the COVID vaccines available in the United States contains animal products. You can read more about the ingredients in the vaccines at these websites:

CDC information about Johnson & Johnson (Janssen): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/ja...

BIVALENT BOOSTERS PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTION

The CDC cites research indicating that bivalent boosters provide broader protection against newer variants of COVID-19:

FETAL TISSUE

  • The CDC has confirmed that COVID vaccines do not contain fetal tissue (see under “Myth: The ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous,” particularly, “COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain ingredients like preservatives, tissues (like aborted fetal cells), antibiotics, food proteins, medicines, latex, or metals.”  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

FETAL CELL LINES

Q: Do the COVID-19 vaccines include aborted fetal cells?

A:  No, none of COVID-19 vaccines available for use in the United States contain any fetal tissue or fetal cells.

Pfizer and Moderna did not use any fetal cell lines to develop or produce their COVID-19 vaccines. But they did use a fetal cell line for laboratory testing before their vaccines were tested on people.

Johnson & Johnson used a fetal cell line to develop and test their COVID-19 vaccine. They also use it for production. The COVID-19 vaccines themselves do not contain any fetal cells.

The fetal cell lines were made in laboratories from cells from 2 abortions conducted in 1973 and 1985. None of the fetal cells used came from a recent abortion or from an abortion done for the sole purpose of vaccine development or other research.

The Catholic Church has reviewed the use of fetal cells for this purpose and has stated that “it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process.” If this issue is of concern to you, we encourage you to review the document COVID-19 Vaccine and Fetal Cell Lines carefully so you can make an informed decision about getting vaccinated. 

​INFERTILITY

INGREDIENTS

The CDC identifies which ingredients are – and are not – in the vaccines available in the United States:

MICROCHIP CONCERNS

PREGNANCY

PREGNANCY - BOOSTER

BREASTFEEDING/LACTATING

SPIKE PROTEINS

THIMEROSAL

None of the brands of the COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States includes thimerosal:

VACCINE AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL – INITIAL (PRIMARY) SERIES

As of August 25, 2022, four COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States:

  • Pfizer (also called Comirnaty) initial series: Full FDA approval for people 12 and older. FDA emergency use authorization for people 6 months to 11 years.
  • Moderna initial series: Full FDA approval for people 18 and older. FDA emergency use authorization for people 6 months to 17 years.
  • Novavax initial series: FDA emergency use authorization for people 12 and older.
  • Johnson & Johnson (also called Janssen) initial series: FDA emergency use authorization for people 18 and older.

For the most current approval and authorization information, see: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Get-the-Facts-on-Vaccines.aspx and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html#protein-subunit

VACCINE AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL – BOOSTER

As of October 20, 2022, four COVID-19 boosters are available in the United States:

Note that as of October 20, 2022, public health authorities recommend either Pfizer or Moderna bivalent boosters (see “Bivalent Boosters” on this page) because they provide the greatest protection. For people who are unable or unwilling to receive a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster, public health authorities recommend a Novavax booster. Public health authorities recommend a Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) booster only for people for whom a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster is not accessible or clinically appropriate or people who would otherwise not receive a booster dose. For the most current approval and authorization information, see: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Vaccine-Boosters.aspx and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html#protein-subunit

VACCINES AND DNA

ALREADY HAD COVID-19

VACCINATED AND RECOVERED FROM BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION

Even if you are vaccinated and recovered from a breakthrough case of COVID-19, you will be better protected, and people around you will be better protected, if you receive a booster. Please watch these one-minute videos to understand how: