The Iowa Catholic Conference and the four Catholic dioceses of Iowa recently launched a video campaign across Iowa to help encourage the use of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Made possible in part by The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Catholic Cares Coalition and by the Iowa Department of Public Health, the campaign features Iowans from across the state sharing their reasoning for supporting the vaccine.
Daniel and Ellen Rosmann, farmers from near Harlan, Iowa, along with their parents, Ron and Maria Rosmann, and brother David Rosmann and his wife, Becky, recently went on camera to tell their vaccination story. The family farms together on nearly 700 acres, raising organic crops, livestock, hogs and egg-layers. Daniel and Ellen shared the story of losing their uncle Father John Vakulskas to COVID in late 2020 and why they believe in the vaccine.
Ryan Burchett, small-business owner from Davenport, shares his story of why he feels strongly about the vaccine as just one way to protect the employees, family, customers and friends of The Mississippi River Distilling Company.
The company was started by Ryan and his brother, Garret, in Le Claire, Iowa, and has faced the many challenges during the pandemic that all restaurants and bars and small businesses have faced. Like many locally owned distilleries in Iowa, Mississippi River Distilling Company turned to producing hand sanitizer during the pandemic as a way to help the small communities of Iowa and to keep the company actively in production.
These are just two of the video stories in the campaign. Other Iowans featured include Alondra Melendez, a college student from Storm Lake, Iowa, and Dawn Suksai, a Laotian factory worker also of Storm Lake, who shared her story with her 10-year-old grandson, Ethan, by her side. The videos will roll out during November and December across Iowa.
Iowa currently ranks 25th in residents fully vaccinated as compared to the rest of the United States, with the percentage of rural Iowa residents lagging behind those in Iowa’s urban areas.
Iowa Catholics are slightly above the average when compared to other segments, yet some Catholics still struggle with the decision. The bishops of Iowa stand behind this communications effort as another way to guide and counsel Iowa Catholics, issuing the following statement:
“Since the development of COVID-19 vaccines to combat the coronavirus pandemic, more than 56% of Iowans have received the vaccine. The faithful of the Catholic Church are receiving the vaccine in larger numbers than any other denomination. Despite its effectiveness, many in the general population are hesitant to receive the vaccine.
“We restate that vaccination has been proven to be the most effective way to fight the virus, that continues to affect and kill so many. In communion with Pope Francis, we remind the faithful that the common good of public health should take precedence over any moral reservation about receiving the vaccines; they will not be effective if people do not use them.”
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