Posted 12/18/20
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” –Romans 12:18
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:12-18
I was fortunate to be on TV again yesterday commenting about the pending vaccines. Here are links regarding that interview I completed while in Target’s parking lot. 🙂
A big Thank You to KMIZ-TV‘s Connor Hirsch (and Zola Crowder) for raising awareness on this topic. 🙂
(Note: the 5 day visit we had when she appeared to be at the end of life was cut from the interview due to time…Tally: 272 days without contact and 5 with…)
Here is my take, in a good/bad hamburger order, on this vaccine:
- Good- It should slow the spread of the virus and, along with natural herd immunity, should put the virus in our rear-view mirror soon.
- Good-The substantial number of tests show that it is effective and safe.
- Bad– It came so quickly (4 months) it makes me nervous, especially for people immunocompromised already. If you redirect your immune system to fight this virus, could it open the door do more problems from things the body was formerly preventing? Time will tell.
- Bad– It makes me very nervous that healthcare workers are the biggest test group of early vaccine receivers. If 6 months down the road they all get sick because of it, who will help them?
- Bad– What about those who won’t be able to take the vaccine? Or won’t take it? The numbers and demographics of people dying of COVID-19, which I will never downplay, show that folks 40 and under have very little chance of dying of the virus makes me hesitant to require a rushed vaccine for them. Give it to the most vulnerable of dying. Example: If a teenager has a 1 in a million chance of dying and an unknown chance of long-term side-affects from the vaccine, I couldn’t see forcing them to have it.
- Good- All testing results look remarkably good. Almost too much so. In an era when a 50% success rate in fighting the flu is a win, a 95% success rate seems nearly too good to be true. I suppose the hundreds of thousands of brainy types who dropped everything to work on this virus would be able to do the same with other vaccines had they been given that much attention.
- Good- There are millions in the world getting sick and dying because of being isolated. As I mentioned in the interview, if this affords us a chance to visit, sign me up. I am going to take that risk and leave the results to my Lord.
Are there more considerations? Dozens. That is the framework from which I drew my decision to take the vaccine…the good outweighs the bad. Maybe pragmatic? Maybe risky? Not beyond the Lord’s pay scale, just my own. I love and respect you if you disagree and I hope you feel the same.
Here are some links (copied from a post on my intranet at work) to use to review the data for yourself and feel free to email me more to add. (mark.applegate@senioragemo.org )
The State of Missouri Vaccine site:
The CDC’s vaccine site:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
Other resources:
https://www.pfizer.com/health/coronavirus
https://www.fda.gov/media/144413/download
https://www.modernatx.com/modernas-work-potential-vaccine-against-covid-19
https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html
https://www.uchealth.org/today/coronavirus-vaccines-101-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-vaccine-research.html
https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/human-cell-strains-vaccine-development
https://www.ky3.com/2020/12/15/health-care-workers-in-missouri-get-coronavirus-vaccine/
https://www.bbc.com/news/54893437
There are strong opinions on this topic and, like any similar topic, grace and love needs to be the driving force in what we say and do. If somebody disagrees with you on this topic, agree to disagree and give a physically-distanced air hug…but don’t argue. I know people I love and trust on BOTH sides of this topic and I expect you do too. Let’s make peace and love win the day over “winning” the argument at all costs…whatever that means. Let’s also not simply follow the politics and say “If politician A says to do it I won’t”, or likewise. Arm yourself with the facts, as best you can find them…and make your decision.
Fair enough?
I hate the division and distraction that COVID-19 has caused in the #EndALZ struggle. We need to find common ground and keep fighting. We need an effort similar in size and scope to the vaccine production itself to finally do away of this disease and have a world with no dementia. Now let’s get back to work killing dementia once and for all!
#EndALZ
#EndAlzheimers
#IsolationKills
Update: Mom “fell” once this week. That must mean she had another seizure because she is NOT physically able to fall out of bed without a violent upheaval of some sort. There was no harm as far as we can see and all seems similar to how it was before her grand mal seizure a couple of weeks ago. What a terrible disease this is. 🙁