Let’s game this out a few moves. This is garden variety virtue signaling if it turns out the shot is not harmful. That virtue “puff” will be exceedingly brief in any case, as the alphabet people are very much the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately types. But the inventor of the technology, mRNA, says it’s not safe. There’s no direct evidence that it will have harmful long term effects, like sterility, accelerated death, birth defects, etc. But that’s because the technology is brand spanking new. As it is, I think the evidence says that if this was any other drug, it would be pulled from the market tomorrow, given what we know.
On the other hand, let’s suppose there are long term effects. Then, that virtue signaling may be very costly. “I only got this shot because the Pope (or, whoever, whatever) invited me personally to get it. You owe me compensation.” Suddenly, the gesture goes from a useless virtue signal to a real, unbounded, liability. I’ll bet there are institutional lawyers all over the place begging their employers to just keep quiet! (But, no-oooo.)
Oh well. 55% of the Israel population took the jab but Palestinians refused it, Pope should also encourage the Palestenians, and he should take the jab, too. What's going on?