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It was news yesterday that apostles over 70, including all of the FP, were vaccinated for COVID19. (I was also vaccinated yesterday, I am neither an apostle or over 70 – or am I? 
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-leaders-covid-19-vaccine ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-leaders-covid-19-vaccine Quote:In word and deed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has supported vaccinations for generations. As a prominent component of our humanitarian efforts, the Church has funded, distributed and administered life-saving vaccines throughout the world. Vaccinations have helped curb or eliminate devastating communicable diseases, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, smallpox and measles. Vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life.
As this pandemic spread across the world, the Church immediately canceled meetings, closed temples, and restricted other activities because of our desire to be good global citizens and do our part to fight the pandemic.
Now, COVID-19 vaccines that many have worked, prayed, and fasted for are being developed, and some are being provided. Under the guidelines issued by local health officials, vaccinations were first offered to health care workers, first responders, and other high-priority recipients. Because of their age, Senior Church leaders over 70 now welcome the opportunity to be vaccinated.
As appropriate opportunities become available, the Church urges its members, employees and missionaries to be good global citizens and help quell the pandemic by safeguarding themselves and others through immunization. Individuals are responsible to make their own decisions about vaccination. In making that determination, we recommend that, where possible, they counsel with a competent medical professional about their personal circumstances and needs.
Further, Pres. Nelson Tweeted about the vaccine(
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-01-19/church-leaders-vaccinated-president-nelson-first-presidency-202151 ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2021-01-19/church-leaders-vaccinated-president-nelson-first-presidency-202151 Quote:…As a former surgeon and medical researcher, I know something of the effort needed to accomplish such a remarkable feat. Producing a safe, effective vaccine in less than a year is nothing short of miraculous. I was a young surgeon when, in 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk announced that he had developed a vaccine against the cruel and crippling disease of polio. I then watched the dramatic impact that vaccine had on eradicating polio as most people around the world were vaccinated.
“For generations, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated considerable resources to making vaccinations available for people in developing countries. Vaccinations have helped to eliminate diseases such as diphtheria and smallpox. My professional and ecclesiastical experiences convince me that vaccinations administered by competent medical professionals protect health and preserve life.
“Receiving the vaccine today was part of our personal efforts to be good global citizens in helping to eliminate COVID-19 from the world.
I know some church members (and some non-members) who are anti-vaccine. Some of these same members (but not the non-members) are very much on the “follow the prophet” bandwagon. It just astounds me how they reconcile the prophet saying to get vaccinated but while professing to follow the prophet they choose not to follow that particular counsel. Some of these same individuals would also be the first in line judge someone for drinking Dr. Pepper or not paying tithing on gross. I just don’t get it.
…or to say that you can’t be a cafeteria Mormon when someone that’s not them decides they want to pick and choose. I read the comments on the press release on social media. I can’t say I’m surprised. What I don’t know is how prevalent the anti-vax/anti-mask attitude is at church. I think there’s enough of that to make me not want to go back to in-person church for a very, very long time.
I’m glad the leaders are setting a good example.
I’m also glad the leaders are setting an example. I consider it somewhat a blessing that I am in “phase 1” because of my occupation because I want to be vaccinated and I want to get back to the “old” normal. Where I live (rural liberal northeast US) the church crowd is fairly compliant with masks, etc. Our bishop insists on masks at church (we’re still in groups every other week just SM) and if you can’t or don’t want to wear a mask you can stay home and watch on video. I think other wards in our stake are similar. But I have adult (or adultish) children in other parts of the country, including Happy Valley, where such is not the case. One of my sons is very reticent to attend church because people are so lackadaisical about masks in his ward. And they sing, too.
I do know anti-vax people in my own ward and stake, but I think in parts of Utah it’s quite organized much the same way as anti-masks (often the same people). I do know one family in the Provo-Orem area that fits the bill – the strict obedience kind of people who in this case will ignore this “prophetic” advice (but wouldn’t touch a Dr. Pepper with a 39 1/2 foot pole).
DarkJedi wrote:
(but wouldn’t touch a Dr. Pepper with a 39 1/2 foot pole)
All the tender mercies of a seasick crocodile.
I am so very happy to have our church leader and prophet with a background in medicine and science! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! There are legitimate concerns about the vaccine such as the speed it was rolled out and so on. Or who is making money off it. Or the fact that this is not a traditional vaccine at all. I am not anti-vaxx in the usual sense, I have been vaccinated for a number of things in the past – off the top of my head – TB, polio, smallpox, rabies (now expired 🐶 ), malaria (also expired), tetanus etc…Part of me appreciates the fact that President Nelson is leading from the front on this, but the other part of me despises the way this entire thing has been handled. Democratic debate squashed in many forums. Abuse of anyone who goes against the grain. The health campaign is also being spearheaded by a corrupt billionaire.
I don’t have any problem with masks. I was wearing one months before the government demanded it. It was uncomfortable and people abused me for doing so. Now they all have to wear them too. By law.
I am seeing lots of pictures on Facebook of President Nelson getting the vaccine. Once again, I am thankful for the example that he is setting in this area. I too appreciate the example of our leaders. I also was glad to see this. My wife and daughter (both in public education) received their first round of the vaccine a couple of weeks ago. Their next one comes up in just a bit. No bad reactions (though an N of 2 is not generalizable). I appreciate the example set. I’m afraid my own mother (pushing 80) expressed reservation about the vaccine and I’m not sure if she’ll get it (though her health is pretty good considering her age). I hope to change her mind. If not me, hopefully, President Nelson changed her mind. I think we want to live in a world without risk and that world is gone forever. Actually, that world never existed. We take a risk just getting up in the morning. We take a risk staying in bed. I saw a good Tiktok (sorry don’t remember whose it was) about how we live in a world of probabilities and we want to live in a world of black and white. But this imperfect world can’t provide us absolute security or absolute answers. There are (a few) risks associated with the vaccine. A woman I know had the vaccine and did have a very bad reaction to it and had to be hospitalized. But that’s one of several hundred I know who have been vaccinated.
But if there is anything that Covid (and my own experience with it) has taught me is how precarious life is and always has been. We ignore that. I think we have to to just get through the day. But life can be taken from us at any moment. I’ve tried (not wholly successfully) to parlay that into an appreciate of individual moments that are good in my life. But it’s challenging. Eventually, the pandemic will end just because such things do. But life’s precarity will not, unfortunately.
When the vaccine becomes available generally, I’ll be taking it with my eyes open to the potential risk involved. Thankfully, the odds are in my favor…this time.
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