'Pray that every one of us gets COVID vaccine'

This picture has been used for representational purpose

As the country readies for its first batch of anti-coronavirus jabs, the Archdiocese of Bombay has asked its parishioners to remember the vaccines in their prayers. The Archdiocese of Bombay had issued a new prayer when the COVID-19 hit the country early last year, which has now been amended in light of the central government's approval of two COVID-19 vaccines.

"We thank You for blessing the efforts of our research scientists working on the development of a vaccine," reads the amended prayer. "We pray that these vaccines will be effective in combating the virus and its mutants, and in controlling the spread of the pandemic. We pray that the vaccine be available for all our people, even the poor and those in rural areas." "We pray for doctors, nurses and health workers who are in the frontline of this battle, that they be kept safe and have the strength and courage to continue their heroic efforts," it added.

Father Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Bombay, told mid-day, "When the coronavirus outbreak was reported in March, we gave a prayer that included and spoke about the need for a vaccine. It has now been amended since the vaccine has been created. In the amended prayer, we are now praying for the effective execution of the vaccine."