Archbishop Aymond completes his Covid19 vaccine; says it is an act of charity

Abp. Aymond: Vaccination is an 'act of charity'

Archbishop Gregory Aymond today received his second dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at Ochsner Health. The archbishop said he regarded being vaccinated as "an act of charity."

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both have been ethically approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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"It really is about charity, it seems to me," Archbishop Aymond said. "We want to control the virus. We don’t want to give it to anybody. We don’t want to receive it. It’s all about charity – charity toward yourself and charity toward others because you don’t want to spread the disease in case you get it."

The archbishop also will join other faith leaders in a public service campaign produced by the city of New Orleans entitled "Sleeves Up, NOLA," which encourages people to take the vaccine.

Archbishop Aymond, 71, came down with COVID last March – he experienced high fever, chills and a loss of taste and smell – but he recovered quickly. Health officials have asked even those who have contracted COVID previously to take the vaccine.

The archbishop took his first Pfizer dose earlier this month, and he said he had "no reaction whatsoever." Ochsner LPN Jessica Aikman administered the second dose to the archbishop today.

From Dec. 14 through Jan. 21,

Ochsner Health

– through its network of hospitals and clinics in Louisiana – has dispensed 86,093 COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Right now, vaccines are reserved for health care workers, individuals over the age of 70, dialysis patients and ancillary health care workers, including lab technicians, dental hygienists and others.

The next phase of vaccinations will include teachers, delivery drivers, grocery store employees, sanitation workers and those front-line employees outside of health care.