Opinion: Cincinnati faith leaders urge congregations to get vaccinated

As faith leaders, we grieve the pain COVID-19 has inflected on the communities we love and serve. We have seen firsthand the devastating toll this virus has played out on the lives of our congregants and their loved ones. We’ve heard countless stories of people in our community losing their lives, jobs and mental health from the lingering effects of this virus.

However, at the same time, we’ve also seen the best in humanity brought out among us through acts of kindness and selflessness. We’ve seen neighbors checking in and helping other neighbors, families reunited and the marvelous ingenuity of America played out in the development of the COVID-19 vaccinations.

We understand the hesitation many Ohioans have toward receiving a COVID-19 vaccine – but we agree with government leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and President Joe Biden, that it’s imperative for our communities to get vaccinated in order to protect us from future variations of the virus and to move us toward resiliency.  

And this is why we’ve joined the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to discuss vaccination efforts in Ohio and urge people of faith across our state to consider receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Please consider getting the COVID-19 vaccination if you haven’t and cheer on your loved ones to do the same as well.

Dr. Joseph Paturi, senior pastor of International Baptist Congregation, writes this on behalf of cosigners: Chris Beard, lead pastor of People's Church; Lewis H. Kamrass, senior rabbi of Isaac M. Wise Temple; and Shaikh Hossam Musa, Imam of the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati.