Religious Perspectives on Vaccination: Understanding Faith Traditions and the Texas Measles Outbreak

The recent measles outbreak in Texas, which has tragically resulted in the deaths of two unvaccinated children, raises important questions about how religious beliefs influence vaccination decisions. As of the latest reports, at least 700 measles cases have been confirmed in four US states and the Mexican State of Chihuahua (across the border from Texas),. This situation provides an opportunity to examine how major religions approach vaccination and preventive medicine and better understand the Mennonite community in western Texas.

Christianity and Vaccination: A Spectrum of Perspectives

Christianity encompasses numerous denominations with varying perspectives on medicine and vaccination., and many Christian leaders actively promote vaccination as an expression of faith and responsibility.

Some Christian perspectives frame vaccines as divine gifts. For example, Dr. Francis Collins, former , suggests that God often provides answers to prayers through people and science. As he explains, anyone praying for disease protection may see vaccines as God’s answer,.

A Christian doctor at Novant Health: “Through the scientists who spent night and day to develop a vaccine, God has provided a tool to protect us. We see examples throughout the Bible of times when God didn’t need to offer tools to safeguard our well-being but did.” He draws parallels to biblical examples, such as Joseph’s organizing food storage during a famine in Egypt, when God worked through human talent and ingenuity.

Many Christians. The responsibility to avoid transmitting contagious diseases resonates with biblical teachings about being our “brother’s keeper” (Genesis 4:9) and loving our neighbors as ourselves (James 2:8).

However, not all Christian groups share these perspectives. Some denominations that rely on faith healing, such as the First Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science),, including vaccines. Christian Scientists believe that disease is an illusion. However, their founder,, encouraged followers to adhere to vaccination laws when necessary.

Judaism: A Strong Tradition Supporting Vaccination

Jewish perspectives on vaccination are notably consistent across denominations., Jewish law is “strongly and invariably supportive of vaccination, including mandatory vaccination with suspension of non-medical exemptions if necessary.”

Rabbi David Kosak explains that Judaism requires vaccines due to multiple religious principles. Judaism teaches that God requires people to heal people, contrasting with some religions that view medicine as going against God’s will. This religious tradition’s positive stance on medicine.

The obligation to vaccinate is rooted in several:

“Pikuach nefesh” (preservation of human life): This principle dictates that the preservation of life takes precedence over almost all other religious obligations.

“Dina demalchuta dina” (the “law of the land is the law “): This principle affirms that adherence to secular vaccination mandates may be obligatory under Jewish law.

Jewish leadership consistently supports vaccination across Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform denominations. The Rabbinical Assembly, representing Conservative rabbis, issued a Resolution on Immunization strongly endorsing vaccination as a “basic and necessary requirement of appropriate pediatric care.” Similarly,.

Rabbi Israel Lipschitz even referred to Edward Jenner, who created the smallpox vaccine in 1796, as “,” showing historical Jewish support for vaccination innovation.

Islamic Perspectives: Prevention as a Religious Duty

Islamic scholars largely view vaccination as aligned with religious principles. The Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar University in Egypt affirmed that “in Islam, prevention is better than cure,” highlighting.

Several Islamic principles support vaccination:

“Izalat al dharar yuzaal” (preventing harm): This principle, along with “maslahat al-ummah” (serving public interest),.

“Wiqaya” (prevention): The Qur’an uses this concept in multiple situations to refer to taking preventive action,.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz, a prominent Islamic scholar, “there is nothing wrong with giving treatment if there is the fear that the disease may occur because of the presence of an epidemic or other factors which may cause disease.”

In 1992, a declaration from the International Islamic Fiqh Academy highlighted that one of the key goals of Sharia is to ensure the protection of life. When forgoing medical care poses risks of spreading infection or causing death to others,.

Some Islamic scholars have addressed questions about vaccine ingredients. The concept of transformation makes some initially concerning ingredients permissible. For example, materials that (halal), similar to how wine transforms into vinegar.

The Mennonite Community and Vaccination

The Mennonite community at the center of the recent Texas measles outbreak represents a specific case within the broader Christian tradition. Mennonites,, have a small presence in the United States but a significant presence in the South Plains region of Texas and Gaines County, the outbreak’s epicenter.

Mennonites do not typically have theological objections to medical care or vaccination. Instead, their approach often emphasizes family autonomy in decision-making. As Pastor David Klassen of the Community Church of Seminole explained regarding the measles outbreak, “We did leave it up to the mothers.” This approach stems from a key tenet for Mennonites expressing that.

Several factors appear to influence vaccination decisions in the Mennonite community:

Trust concerns: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have decreased trust in medical facilities. Tina Siemens, who operates the, which is focused on the local Mennonite community,, “COVID really plummeted the trust in our medical facilities.”

Personal experiences: Some community members cite observations of alleged vaccine injuries as influencing their decisions. “Because we have a number of vaccine injuries in our community if they [Mennonite families] see what happened, they will say, ‘Based on that and my research, I will not do that,’” Siemens explained.

Misinformation: Some local Mennonites believe scientifically discredited claims that vaccinations cause autism. Others express concerns about vaccine ingredients, with one father explaining, “The vaccination has stuff we don’t trust.”

Religious fatalism: Some community members express a fatalistic view related to their faith. The father of the girl who died from complications of measles told a reporter, “Everybody has to die,” suggesting acceptance of such outcomes as God’s will.

It is important to note that these perspectives are not uniform across all Mennonites. Some choose to vaccinate their children, and no official church doctrine opposes vaccination. The community’s resistance appears to be more cultural than doctrinal,.

Conclusion: Faith and Public Health in Conversation

Examining religious perspectives on vaccination reveals that most major faith traditions support vaccination, often framing it as fulfilling religious duties to preserve life and protect communities. The tensions that typically arise relate more to questions of authority, autonomy, and trust than to explicit theological objections.

The measles outbreak in Texas highlights how religious communities navigate these questions in real-time, with significant public health consequences. Understanding religious communities’ specific concerns and values can help public health officials engage more effectively with these groups.

For instance, health officials in Texas have worked with community members like Tina Siemens, who helped translate vaccine information into Low German, the language spoken by local Mennonites. Such culturally sensitive approaches acknowledge the importance of respecting community norms while providing accurate information.

As we navigate the complex intersection of religious belief and public health, it’s worth remembering that most religious authorities across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam see no conflict between faith and vaccination. Many see vaccination as fulfilling religious obligations to protect life and care for others. The challenge lies in bridging gaps of trust and communication so that religious communities can make informed decisions consistent with their faith traditions and the well-being of their members.

Resources and Additional Reading

1. Christian Science. “A Christian Science perspective on vaccination and public health.” Christian Science. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.christianscience.com/press-room/a-christian-science-perspective-on-vaccination-and-public-health
2. Galper Grossman, S., & Grossman, A. (2021). Religious Doctrine and Attitudes Toward Vaccination in Jewish Law. Journal of Religion and Health, 60(5). Published October 27, 2021.
3. Azizi, F.S.M., Nordin, N.I., & Aziz, A.A. (2021). Vaccination: Influencing Factors and View from an Islamic Perspective. International Medical Journal Malaysia.
4. Associated Press. (2025, March 4). Mennonites, West Texans at center of measles outbreak choose medical freedom over vaccine mandates. PBS NewsHour.
5. ABC News. (2025, March 28). Measles outbreak in Texas is spreading beyond the Mennonite community: Officials.
6. Qidwai, W., Nanji, K., Khoja, T.A.M., & Rawaf, S. (2023). Vaccine hesitancy within the Muslim community: Islamic faith and vaccination. Journal of Global Health, 13. Published March 13, 2023.