The first vaccine dose was administered at the Vatican the afternoon of Wednesday, March 31, to a group of more than 100 people, hosted by the dormitory of the Missionaries of Charity of San Gregorio al Celio, and residents in other Roman buildings. His Holiness’ Almoner received them in Paul VI Hall.

In the coming days, other groups of people will receive the vaccination, accompanied by volunteers of San Egidio Community, of Caritas Romana, of the Missionaries of Charity, and of other Associations.

The Vatican is set to vaccinate more than a thousand of Rome’s most poor and marginalized.

In a March 26 statement from the Office of Papal Charities, they announced that during Holy Week, as Easter approaches, doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be used to vaccinate 1,200 of the poorest and most marginalized people who, because of their situation, are the most exposed to the virus.

These doses were purchased by the Holy See and offered by the Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital through the Vatican Covid-19 Commission. This vaccine administration will take place in the specially designed facility inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. The same vaccine administered to the Pope and employees of the Holy See will be used.

The gesture, the statement explains, is intended “to reinforce the Holy Father’s numerous appeals to ensure that no one be excluded from the anti-Covid-19 vaccine, the Office of Papal Charities once again accompanies the most fragile and vulnerable.”

In order to continue such charity toward the poor and vulnerable, specifically in giving them the opportunity to access treatment and vaccination, one wishing to help can pay for the vaccine for a person in need by giving “alms” with an online donation through the Holy Father’s charity account, managed by the Office of Papal Charities.