Oct 9, 2021 - Health

NIH chief implores fellow evangelical Christians to get vaccinated

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National Health Institute Director Francis S. Collins holds a model of a Coronavirus, as he testifies at a Senate hearing on July 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. — National Health Institute Director Francis Collins holds a model of a coronavirus, as he testifies at a July 2020 Senate hearing in Washington, D.C. Photo: Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images

National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins said Saturday on CNN that it's "truly heartbreaking" to see fellow evangelical Christians hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to disinformation.

Why it matters: "We see still more than 1,000 people [per day] losing their lives to this disease — almost all of those unvaccinated and, therefore, didn't have to happen," said Collins, who's due to retire at the end of 2021.

What he's saying: "Let me make a plea right here that if you are a Christian or anybody who has not yet gotten vaccinated, hit the reset button on whatever you have that's causing you to be doubtful or fearful and look at the evidence," Collins said.

"The evidence is overwhelming. The vaccines are safe, they're effective, they can save your life."

Go deeper: A look at who is still not vaccinated against COVID

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NIH chief implores fellow evangelical Christians to get vaccinated

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