As countries around the world ramp up efforts to roll out vaccines for vulnerable groups (albeit slowly), mistrust and conspiracy theories are prevalent and many faith leaders have been compelled to counter vaccine doubts and misinformation for the good of their communities. One positive theme is appreciation for the power of example as leaders are themselves vaccinated, often in very public ways. In the United Kingdom, imams are attempting to combat misinformation during their sermons and, through their influence, to argue that the vaccine is safe and permissible according to Islam. Reports in the United Kingdom show that mistrust of vaccines runs higher among ethnic minorities. A chairman for the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board says that their efforts to vaccinate at local mosques can also counter far-right claims, insisting that a lower uptake of vaccines in Muslim communities compared to other communities could fan the flames of Islamaphobia.
 
In Indonesia, interfaith leaders from the country’s six recognized religions (Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Protestantism) took part in a virtual prayer service on January 20 calling for peace and healing of those affected by the pandemic and pleading with people to observe public health protocols. A top Muslim cleric and Jesuit priest echoed thoughts of unity saying, “Our nation is strong enough. The key is to strengthen a sense of brotherhood. Unity must be promoted among people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.”
 
Members of the Baháʼí faith across the globe are navigating the crisis by seeking to contribute to the well-being of their communities by learning how to apply social and spiritual principles to fill unmet needs in people’s lives. In both Uganda and the Philippines, Baháʼí-operated radio stations bring hope and joy to people through prayer and meaningful conversations, inspiring acts of service, and broadcasting education materials with spiritual stories for children whose schools are closed due to health measures.

The German Catholic aid organization, Misereor, recently called on the European Union to provide everyone with fair and rapid access to vaccines as it became known that 13% of the world’s population has secured half of all total COVID vaccines. This has caused experts to worry that achieving universal vaccination could take years unless wealthier nations are willing to invest more money into the cause. Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Mario Galgano, Pirmin Spiegel, the director general of Misereor said, "In the spirit of universal brotherhood and solidarity, the poorest and most vulnerable need special attention. And we must not lose sight of other serious and growing crises in the South, despite the pandemic. Hunger, lack of access to health care, lack of educational opportunities, the consequences of climate change, and gender injustice."