In reviewing the most talked-about health topics, the SARS virus and COVID 19 are continuing to dominate discussions in the media. Back in April of 2020, I wrote on this blog that I felt the media would be covering this story for a long period of time. At that time, we knew very little about effective treatment and vaccines were in the early stages of development. Today’s media coverage is largely focused on vaccines, including those from Pfizer, Moderna, and the newest entry from Johnson and Johnson. The press is not writing much about the “big picture”.
This disease is an evolving clinical scenario. Never before has the world, 7.67 billion people, suffered from a pandemic in real-time. Via the media, everyone knows everything in real-time. This includes opinions as well as by-the-minute research. So there’s a lot of voices out there. But what is the “big picture”?
A few observations that may help you:
- The vaccines thus far are safe.
- Remember, they do not prevent you from getting the virus or spreading the virus, but if you are infected, you have less chance of getting really sick.
- We still do not know how to follow those clinically who have experienced the virus. Some late complications include loss of taste and smell, blood clots, fatigue, and prolonged shortness of breath.
- Treatment for the immune response and the virus itself, including the vaccine and other monoclonal antibodies, are a subject of on-going research. Ivermectin research shows promise in combating the virus in South America.
- We are still learning about those who have had the virus and have natural immunity. The NIH has received funds to study this and their website is excellent. The article linked here discusses T-cell immunity, which is produced from viral exposure as well as vaccines.
- We still need to be safe and do not know the full implications of the mutations that have developed. Pfizer has reported at www.Pfizer.com that the vaccine elicits neutralizing antibodies to the variants in the UK and South Africa.
- If you are having symptoms, see your provider early on.
- Do not forget the “big picture”.
What is the “big picture”?
God is sovereign. He allows disease for reasons. He is in control. The “big picture” is this: We have a patient God who loves us so much. He wants us to have hope and joy in a relationship with Him. This is the path to eternal healing. We all have bad genes and need a Savior. We can trust and believe our God who gave His Son, to reconcile us to Him.
This pandemic is an opportunity for us to grow and share love with others.
To learn more check out some of these YouTube videos.
I Praise God our creator for His faithfulness, Graciousness, and Mercy for us all who believe in Him and Trust Him.
Thank You For Being A Child Of God And Sharing The Assurance of Hope And Salvation.
Yes God is still in control. His name is above any other names. He is above this Covid virus.
God Help us to increase our faith in you and to trust you in every situation in our lives. Let our mind not to focus on the media news that is making us worry and scared. God please Bless America once again. Come and visit each single soul so that they can reach out to you. In Jesus name Amen.
This pandemic has opened my eyes to those suffering from homelessness. Since, I lost my
Mom and home I have become transformed to the will of God. I pray this pandemic will
someday change the law. It should be illegal to exploit veteran’s, senior’s, the incapacitated or
dependent adult’s. The right resources have to be found whether or not to another’s profit or
advantage.
Thank you for the great information and reminding us to go to God!
Well written article James. I think this pandemic has showed us how Faith and Trust in God can lead us through any disaster or pandemic. It seemed bleak at first but now things are getting so much better and I Praise God for this
I thank you for your insightful message. I think our great physician Jesus Christ gave us the one and only answer in response not only to this vaccine, but also to the mask wearing early on. He admonished us time and time and time again to “Love our neighbors” and it wasn’t just a message in the 10 commandments, We are “to love others” is sprinkled quite liberally throughout God’s timeless word. Early on, it wasn’t hard for me to put a mask on to protect others (and myself). We should have been doing this as Christians to show others what Christians look like. We don’t know what this vaccine will do to us in the future just like we don’t know what a lot of things will do to us in the future. Smoking. Drinking. Eating lots of junk food. I could go on. The point is to LOVE OTHERS ABOVE OURSELVES and that our “Rights and Freedoms” do not infringe on others. That means, putting others FIRST. There is obviously a virus and whether or not that affects one person or many persons, isn’t the issue. Even if it affected ONE person and we didn’t know who that one person was, we are called to love that person by doing what we can to mitigate any harm that may come to that person by wearing a mask, and getting vaccinated. JESUS would do it. I know this because he gave his life for us which was the ULTIMATE sacrifice. I think if he did that for us, we can most certainly, in love and trust that whatever may come from doing that loving thing for our neighbor, to become vaccinated. It’s not hard. Get vaccinated and trust God to do the rest. I did and I felt, if I die because of it, I’ll have died loving my neighbor as myself.