To be — or not to be — vaccinated
Pastor M. Alson Ebanks writes: I write this for two reasons. First I hope it will encourage my fellow Evangelical Christians to remember, as the Psalmist stated, that “Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death” (Psalm 68:20). I will state categorically that every discovery that has saved human lives is from God. Science is not the purview of atheists; science belongs to God, the Creator and sustainer of the universe (and the sustainer of life).
The second reason that I feel compelled to write this is because I am becoming increasingly embarrassed by some of the chatter that I hear in the Evangelical camp — which in essence is just an echo chamber — people choosing to speak and listen to only that which they are already convinced of. If that attitude had prevailed during the days of William Jenner and Louis Pasteur, where would the science of immunology be today?
At times I hear many of my fellow Christians complaining that people in certain camps ignore science in order to promote their sexual ideology, for example. But this is exactly what I see when it comes to the all-too-common attitude among Evangelicals with reference to vaccinations — in particular, the COVID-19 vaccines. I read somewhere recently that in the US the largest group that is resisting COVID-19 vaccination is Evangelicals.
From what I have detected, Cayman and much of the Caribbean have caught the “American evangelical bug”, symptoms of which include the belief in some conspiracy theory associated with vaccination, distrust of Bill Gates, and the rather naive expectation that there should be no adverse results associated with any world-wide vaccination.
Therefore, on the one hand, local Evangelical and other conservative Christians express their distress that those who wish to promote non-Christian views of human sexuality are ignoring science in preference of their feelings, while on the other hand many of us operate along the same lines when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination.
I assume that by now most of us will have read and heard enough about vaccines to know what they are. As a Christian pastor, I believe that since God is in the business of saving lives, and not taking them, that he chose two committed Christian men to bring about the initial gains in vaccination and immunology that we enjoy today. We know from history that the first human vaccines against viruses were based using weaker or “weakened” (attenuated) viruses to generate immunity.
The smallpox vaccine used cowpox, a poxvirus that was similar enough to smallpox to protect against it but usually didn’t cause serious illness. This breakthrough was at the hands of Edward Jenner, a committed follower of Christ. Rabies was the first virus attenuated in a lab to create a vaccine for humans. The breakthrough for this can be credited to Luis Pasteur, the celebrated French microbiologist and chemist, honoured as “the father of bacteriology”. Pasteur was a devout Christian, whose work set the stage for some of the greatest advances in medical science.
I am not a doctor, so I Iook to doctors when I need medical advice and action. But I never forgot the name of William Jenner from my days in elementary school, where we were taught about his discovery — one that has saved multiplied millions of lives. Some things have changed from Jenner’s days. I have read that vaccines are now made using several different processes.
The most common method until today has been to make a vaccine that contained either live viruses that have been weakened or altered so as not to cause illness, or inactivated or killed viruses; as well as inactivated toxins for bacterial diseases. A recent development, and one directly related to the COVID-19 vaccine, are vaccines using mere segments of the disease-causing virus.
I recall that immediately after my daughter was born (I was in the birthing room), the nurse took her aside and administered some sort of vaccination. I believe it was against Tetanus. And over the years I myself have received multiple vaccinations for all sorts of pathogens. In reality, each year more than 10 million vaccinations are administered to American infants (those one year old and under). Thankfully, because of vaccination as a medical tool, smallpox — a disease that caused fatalities in 30-40% of cases — has now been declared as eradicated.
But vaccines are not perfect; even if they were, human bodies and immune systems are not. So despite its effectiveness, there were adverse events associated with the smallpox vaccine. According to some sources, an average of 28 persons out of every million who received the smallpox vaccine had life-threatening reactions to it, with a mortality rate of one to two people per million.
This reality of adverse events associated with vaccinations in general must be appreciated in the greater reality that smallpox, polio, and many other vaccines are the single greatest life-saving medical intervention and invention in human history. Thanks be to God for his great mercy. I declare with the psalmist, “Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.”
And I now encourage my Christian brothers and sisters to celebrate the fact that science is of God, as is medicine, as is vaccination, and in faith trust him to preserve your life when you act unselfishly to be vaccinated. And, by the way, I wouldn’t worry about receiving the “mark of the Beast” by way of vaccination any more than I would suggest that someone could receive the “mark of Christ” accidentally.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Health, Medical Health, Viewpoint
“science belongs to God”
Funniest thing ever posted on CNS.
If only prayer worked. Then we would have no need for vaccines.
If only the Christian god was good and cared about his creations. Then there would be no deadly viruses on Earth.
While I support the choice to vaccinate, this message is flawed in so many levels. I will just mention 2:
The writer asserts “I will state categorically that every discovery that has saved human lives is from God. Science is not the purview of atheists; science belongs to God”. However, the Bible states that the heart if man is desperately wicked.
Satan enabled the first human “discovery” – that was “the knowledge of good and evil..like God”.
God created atoms, neutrons and germs, and all have been harnessed science for the good of all mankind. But these items have also been used by men to destroy countless lives.
Knowledge is simply knowledge. It is the application of it, and the state of mind and heart of the scientific “discoverer” predicates if it will result in good or evil.
Similarly, he refers to “the Psalmist”, knowing well that David was a wicked fellow much of the time, and a devotee in others. David alone fought all manner of evil, outnumbered, but with faith in God’s protection.
Each person’s individual circumstances and choices may indeed be led by God. Is everyone to be spared tho? Are we all made to live eternally? Is virus natural and “of God”?
I would have been more reassured if the author had added a call to redemption and right living, regardless.
True. The Nobel Peace Prize is just a conscience prize, after Mr Nobel invented dynamite and it was used and developed in expanding death in warfare!!
I’m an atheist, scientist, health professional, and passionate vaccine advocate. Thank you Pastor for your viewpoint encouraging evangelical Christians to get vaccinated using theological arguments for it. If your thesis encourages any people to get vaccinated, who wouldn’t otherwise, it is worth it. Let’s all humans work together to overcome this global pandemic!
Who cares all I know I wont be coming back there
9:47 we could care less. Keeping it moving and stop commenting on our news sites.
Pastor Al says …….” And I now encourage my Christian brothers and sisters to celebrate THE FACT THAT SCIENCE IS OF GOD”…………..
The Oxymoron of all oxymorons, I can’t stop laughing, the most hilarious thing I’ve heard in a while.
It’s 2021…………..humans still believe in religion.
Secular governments is what we need.
Those who are vaccinated trust the science and wants the border to be reopen and a return to normalcy. The virus on the other hand, hmmm, look carefully at what it is doing. It is here to make the wrongs right and it is given us chances to make the necessary changes to our lives, how we think, how we act, how we treat each other, how we treat the animals and nature in general. If you are living in reality – having a family to take care of, trying to survive, greed, the true meaning of what is happening will not be understood and hence, will be easily manipulated into believing what is not true. We are on the cusp of a catastrophe and only you, me can save ourselves. It is folly to think this will be over anytime soon.
No carnival, no vaccine.
I went to my doctor. “Doctor when is this pandemic going to end?” He said: “Don’t know. I don’t know much of politics.”
🙄
Good Morning. Yes, alot of renown doctors too are telling people, not to take the vaccine shot… These are confusing times we are living in. So many voices. I choose to stand by. Because I feel I have the right to suspend judgement. Respectfully, my body is my body. It doesn’t belong to any law-maker. Regards
9:15 am: who are these renowned doctors? Name one. Everyone I have spoken to have been told to get the vaccine. You cannot make a generalization without naming names.
9:44 you don’t have to name names
Born Caymanian, I am with you. I’ve had several doctors tell me not to as well. At this time I’m not going to take the vaccine. I would like to see more about the side effects and see further information before I put something so new into my body. I have had bad reactions in the past and I don’t want to risk that again.
Enjoy the Delta Variant when you get it! Yes it Is “your” choice to be Foolish!
Lol
My mother called the doctor. No more monkeys jumping on the bed, he said.
Science is a process of investigation. Your imaginative sky fairy has nothing to do with that since there are no questions or investigation into the evidence of such a BS view point of reality.
What everyone is trying to say underneath all this anger is that, we all just really miss our families. And friends. This border closure has stopped me from seeing my family for so long. I can name at least 12 other people I know on island who desperately miss their families too. We can’t see them when flights are five times normal price & quarantine is for 3 weeks. Travel is only for the rich right now. I’ve traveled to South Florida 4 times since Covid started and I haven’t got Covid once. It’s actually possible to not get the virus if you wear your mask and wash your hands. Seriously, not very hard things to do. But I would rather get Covid than not see my family for 2 years Bc of it. I’m sad. The whole entire world has figured out how to move on, see your loved ones, work around it. If you don’t let people see their family, the island will be desolate and you can all be by yourself again. Is that what you want? Seemingly yes. They want the riches without the work. I just miss my family but I feel like I’m in a communist country. Caymanian government made the decision to let foreigners in so that we could bring the revenue. All I ask is that you have a heart and open the borders so families can reunite. Not just the rich families who can afford a $800 one hour flight but for everyone. Is it cayman kind or cayman heartless? Did being on the yellow list wake you up yet? NO ONE CARES about your zero community spread. Literally they don’t. They want the vaccinated baby
Darling, you just need to go home to your family! While there, find a job and stay with them. Easy alternative to staying here in our islands, being miserable and bitching about measures taken here to stay safe! Oh yeah … I forget you want the riches too, hence your “sacrifice” of being locked down here with us without family. True or true?
My father passed over a year ago. He died early in the pandemic, in a care facility. I have been unable to return home to give him a proper funeral due to our insane quarantine restrictions. So, I am very opinionated on this topic. I am fully vaccinated, yet, inexplicably, must quarantine for 10 days? Where is the logic? There is none.
The fact that a member of your family died yet you don’t understand the quarantine protocols to protect people is mind boggling. People like you is what is wrong with the world.
Insane quarantine restrictions? Really? The insanity is that you chose to be here and continue to stay here. These islands are currently one of the safest places on earth due to the insane measures taken by our government, and the discipline of the majority to comply. I’m sorry about your father’s passing but how dare you. Your ignorance obviously does not allow you to understand that being vaccinated has not made you immune. Why stay here since you are so miserable? Where’s the logic in you doing so when you have the choice to leave?
Do your research on all the vaccines.
Even with the vaccines you can still get infected and infect others, aswell as dying.
You are not immune.
The argument for having only the non vaccined do quarantine does not stand up.
Absolute nonsense.
It should be mandated that all Work Permit renewals are contingent upon haven been vaccinated (unless excused medically).
I would prefer that such a mandate would immediately cover all WP holders but I can see the problem in trying to enforce such a mandate on those that are not yet up for renewals. But eventually all Work Permits will be up for renewal.
As for Caymanians that refuse to get vaccinated in spite of the salient scientific reasons,continue to muddle and peddle dogma and conspiracy theories…
Perhaps, prayer and God will inoculate them.
You suggestion makes good sense, except for your last line. Because there’s a universal truth that Ron “Tater Salad” White famously quipped, “You can’t fix stupid.” 🙂
Why limit it to work permits. Make it apply to trade and business licences too. Or can’t caymanians catch covid ? Make it a condition of all personal renewals; drivers licence, passport,taxi licence, liquor licence… Let’s just get it done and dusted so we can all move on
.
Your point taken!
I’ve proposed in part a solution (and you the same) to a problem that effects us all.
Our suggestions are not mutually exclusive…I don’t disagree with you.
I think the writer is of the belief that if we target foreigners and blame them, any responsibility is lifted.
Everyone should get vaccinated, not just workers coming here.
And I now encourage my Christian brothers and sisters to celebrate the fact that science is of God.
I encourage my brothers and sisters to keep religion out of politics. We’re not a theocracy and they’re plenty of critical thinking individuals who DGAF about your wizard of oz BS.
People like you 8:37 shouldn’t be here. Just leave. With your disrespect.
government should pass a law that you must be vaccinated to go to church
The attitude towards the then thought “ridiculous” theory of spreading germs did not actually begin with Pasteur and Jenner. In fact Louis Pasteur credited a little know pioneer, Dr Ignaz Semmelweis, circus 1849, who was mocked and driven mad by his peers.
Dr Semmelweis had conducted observational research and postulated that the reason women were dying in hospitals of his era was because doctors were not washing their hands as they moved from examining patient after patient.
Shocking to us today, but it is true. We tend to resist new information, often times to our own peril, especially if our ignorance is being reinforced by people who should know better.
Get vaccinated.
I am guessing that with a name like Semmelweis he was not Christian example that suited Pastor Al’s needs.
True to form, we are nitpicking irrelevant minutiae and missing the point Past Alson so well outlines—stop listening to politically motivated brethren (yes, evangelicals allowed themselves to be used by Trump, who, by the way, sneakily got vaccinated) and go get the vaccines before they expire.
If you change your mind later, you may not have a chance.
I have so many questions.
Is the natural response of those NOT immunized being studied?
Has a placebo been used?
Is the natural response of those immunized being studied to compare efficacy?
Will the outcome of untested people be considered in the trial analysis?
Will these results be public and when?
Can we (vaccinated or not) shed live viral matter orally and to what effect?
What of the accumulated shed “messengers” internally?
Does the TCell continue indefinitely within us?
When will the global trial be over?
When will liability and health insurance coverage kick in for those with adverse reactions?
Why not give India etc free access?
Can it be transmitted by animals or pets?
What’s the life span of the viral cells?
9:42 pm: so many questions—here is a suggestion: the answers are at the end of your fingertips. Try Google.
dude just get the shot you’re no better than the rest of the world who already got it
Is the natural response of those NOT immunized being studied?
Yes, but vaccination is easily preferred over natural immunity.
Has a placebo been used?
Yes, half the phase 3 clinical trial of over 40,000 people had the placebo. The trial shows the vaccine works.
Is the natural response of those immunized being studied to compare efficacy?
Efficacy is shown in people who didn’t contract the virus in the experimental group. It is shown to be 95% effective vs placebo.
Will the outcome of untested people be considered in the trial analysis?
This question is irrelevant. It takes more than testing to be considered positive for Covid-19.
Will these results be public and when?
Results are public of the phase 3 trials and Israel real world data.
Can we (vaccinated or not) shed live viral matter orally and to what effect?
Yes. You could still transmit any virus if vaccinated. The chance of this happening is far lower with SARS-CoV-2 if vaccinated.
What of the accumulated shed “messengers” internally?
Unsure the context of this question.
Does the TCell continue indefinitely within us?
It will remember, but unknown for how long. A booster shot may be necessary.
When will the global trial be over?
2023
When will liability and health insurance coverage kick in for those with adverse reactions?
Upon full FDA approval. This vaccine is more than likely to get it. Unlikely the vaccine should cause any harm.
Why not give India etc free access?
They have to purchase it like any other country. There is no free access. It costs money.
Can it be transmitted by animals or pets?
The virus can Yes.
What’s the life span of the viral cells?
They multiply in your body so if you are unvaccinated it can take up to 21 days to clear your system. Sometimes longer.
Open it up. If you didn’t get your vaccine take your chances with the Covid. The government and non vaxd cannot hold us hostage.
Im a gay christian.
Should i get it?
5:29 that’s totally up to you.
sounds like you already got the jab, so no worries
Absolutely no excuse for not getting the vaccine if you have no medical issues preventing it. Realistically Cayman cannot open up to tourism until 80 – 90% of the population are vaccinated, and even then it may mean our healthcare systems are overwhelmed. It is inevitable we will get numerous cases and serious illnesses when we open.
The various studies in the UK, Israel, Italy today and many others show even one jab reduces chances of serious illness or hospitalisation by about 90%.
The bigger concern is the Indian variant – let’s see what the UK studies find in the next week or so but the biggest worry is that the Indian variant is more transmissible – the scientists seem confident that the vaccines work just as well against it.
For all countries therefore it is a race of jabs vs spread of new variants. In the uk, i THINK THE POLICY ANNOUNCED YESTEDAY OF SPEEDING UP JABS FOR OVER 18’S IN PEAK AREAS AND bringing forward SECOND JABS FOR OVER 50’S SHOULD HOPEFULLY prevent a rd wave – a 3rd wave would be catastrophic with deaths peaking at hundreds a day for a relatively brief period again and this would seriously stretch but probably not overwhelm the NHS.
The reason Cayman can’t open up until everyone is vaccinated however is that if the Indian strain (117.2) is moderately to dramatically more transmissible, which seems to be the case, then almost all countries are in a worse state than the UK…
Any country with an elderly population and low vaccination rates is a disaster waiting to happen. Japan Australia and New Zealand are obvious examples. The Olympics will surely be cancelled. Such countries will need to retain the most stringent border controls until they get their population fully vaccinated if they are to avoid an India style epidemic and all countries will get a third wave of cases and those with low vaccination rates will get a new wave of hospitalisation and deaths.
Most of Europe and possibly places like the USA where vaccination hesitancy is high are the most relevant to Cayman unless they can keep 117.2 at bay for a while, if we are to open our borders.
Some countries which appear to have high case rates despite vaccination rates comparable with the UK may already have 117.2 as the dominant strain I expect. Examples are the Seychelles, Dubai and Chile.
To the whole bunch of vaccine nah sayers, atheists and others, the Pastor did not insist on anyone/ every one taking the vaccine, rather he encouraged those of like faith and thought to do so based on the precepts he discussed. Now the whole bunch a you want to beat up on him. You know what screw the lot a you who think only you and your thoughts are the best for these Islands. You are not only boring and tiresome but also showing that the less of the lot of you that we allow to live amongst us,it gives us locals a fighting chance of breathing clean air again. We did without your crass comments and habits and ya money and your businesses before and we can certainly do without you now. Go home if you don’t like it here, go home to your miserable dirty scruffy polluted crime ridden cities and byways.
The Olympics will surely be cancelled.
Fancy that, almost like allowing large gathering of people is the cause of transmitting the virus..
Let’s hurry open our borders because the experts believe we have to.
My advice to the people who want to see large gatherings of people again try hosting the Olympics and invite everyone to it. Happy Covid.
5:26 You are clearly an example of the idiots we do not need here.
Stopped reading when I saw ‘ Pastor’
7:51 yet you are so ignorant to make a comment on something you have not read. It was actually a well written letter and you would do well to read it.
To 7:51 am you might want to consider the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary definition of
pre-judice:
an unreasonable dislike of or preference for a person, group, custom, etc., especially when it is based on their race, religion, sex, etc.
I don’t don’t care if someone does not want to get the vaccine , the problem is government will not open up till 80 percent of the people are vaccinated . June 9 is the last day to get your shots. I think government has done everything possible to get people vaccinated but at a certain point the have to give up. I say open up June 15 if you get sick its your own fault.
And the % vaccination trigger for reopening – what science is this based on? How was this arrived at? Who did they consult? I imagine the CMO and PHE. Will there be a much needed audit of HSA and health city Cayman Islands (and Doctors Hospital) capacity? They will all need to deal with a fragile case…and the island needs re assurance that they have the best science and the best advice to hand. !
International Health: these figures are based on what is already widely known about epidemics. It is true there is no magic figure, but governments are relying on the best judgment of epidemiologists. And I am good with that, rather than being swayed by persons who basically just sound off without any basis to do so.
For 1:03 pm:
It’s based on a collaborative scientific approach involving several branches of the sciences (e.g. mathematics, biology, sociology).
For example the mathematics that have been developed typically involve a deterministic compartmental model, in a complex formula that includes differential equations.
“Differential equations” are part of the analytic tools and techniques typically referred to generically as “the calculus”. If you enjoy those, take a look at the research paper
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190554/
“I will state categorically that every discovery that has saved human lives is from God. Science is not the purview of atheists; science belongs to God”
As an Atheist Caymanian medical professional, please stay in your lane.
“Science does not agree with Religion, but Religion tries to agree with Science”
Science is a religion in itself these days.
Not at all. If you think research is anything near the anti researchers who believe a book written by many people with wild imaginations than I feel sorry for you.
6:31 am: Pastor Alson identified himself as a pastor and he was speaking to evangelicals and congregants influenced by their pastors.
You obviously do not know this gentleman; otherwise you would have been aware of his impressive intellect prowess, which is well known in the Cayman community.
And thanks to the availability at one’s fingertips of scientific data and medical research these days, he is likely as informed as anyone else, including some in the medical fraternity, on the subject under discussion.
In fact, I find that many medical people do not do much research, perhaps precisely because of the patronizing attitude you are displaying—that medical matters and their scientific bases are the purview of doctors and other medical professionals.
Fortunately, the opening up of information has long relegated those attitudes to Old School.
Thank you, Pastor Alson, well done abd very courageous.
“I find that many medical people do not do much research”
Yes because we just get the title of Dr handed to us for no work at all..
It’s one thing to study the “magic” of Science, another to actually perform it to acquire facts.
It’s one thing to study the “magic” of miracles in the Bible, another to actually see them in action..
Tell me, why do your followers thank god when * I * save their lives? Why are they so scared to die?
“True morality is doing what is right without the threat of divine retribution nor the possibility of divine reward.” – Arthur Paliden
Your sheep come to you for kind words, then come to me when they need problems solved, yet I get no appreciation for dedicating my life to medical science. Respectfully, get back to me when your prayers are proven to reduce ICU bed usage, Pastor.
8:15 pm: Sounds like a nincompoop, Dr Nincompoop.
You really think you are special because you have “Dr” before your name, don’t you?
You and your kind are Old School. So yesteryear.
There was a time when you might have been special, but I somehow doubt it even then— at least doctors in a bygone era were made of stuff that you clearly have little idea of.
I’m an atheist but I like what this guy wrote. Thank you for helping guide your fearful, your ignorant and your bigoted as they are many.
3:57 yet you refer to his people ignorantly. Not everyone who is a Christian is fearful, ignorant or bigoted. You and people of your beliefs are quick to say Christian are disrespectful…seems to be the other way around.
You should take note of the fact that the Christian Pastor never called anyone names or maligned any group… unlike you, slinging prejudices left, right, and center. Says a lot about you
Ah yes, the good Christians of Cayman encouraging hate for gay people, voting in abusers of a women, gamblers and liars, hater of foreigners, believers of vaccine conspiracy theories and the protectors of child diddlers. Sounds like a great lot!
Religion is for the weak of mind and fearful of the unknown.
Uh, those were verbs, not name calling. If it had said “you’re” which is a conjunction of ‘you are’, then that would be name calling. Or do they not teach that in your religious schools?
And each verb is true; “your fearful” you are meant to be God fearing
“your ignorant” = Adjective- Lacking education or knowledge.
Adjective-Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge.
Adjective-Unaware or uninformed.
“your bigoted” = From the below comment at 5:15am description ” encouraging hate for gay people, voting in abusers of a women, gamblers and liars, hater of foreigners, believers of vaccine conspiracy theories and the protectors of child diddlers”
All true. Because you think if you go to church to confess your sins quietly in your head, all is forgiven. Like it never happened. Right!!??
I am not an atheist and neither will you be when you stand before God.
I am just trying to help.
Help yourself
read revelation 13 vs15 to 18 this is not it but it’s the warm up be wise God God people and lisen to the spirit direction he will lead us into all truth
No disrespect here, but God is not illiterate and neither does He expect us to be.
When you present ill-formed drivel to a platform wherein most of the readers are educated expats, you do your cause a disservice.
And how is the Spirit a He?
If Jesus is a Son, then by mathematical induction, He has a Mother and a Father.
Come on people, wake up. You are great.
To the attempted point “When you act unselfishly to be vaccinated” if that young mother or that young father who opts not to get vaccinated because he/she wishes to keep healthy for their children over the long term, how can this be chided?
Getting vaccinating is a personal decision based on a sensible risk assessment. That is all there is too it. Others persons are wrong to judge their call. There is no commandment ‘remember to take the vaccine’.
Scientifically the Pfizer vaccines is still only a mere “emergency use authorized” (EUA) pharmaceutical product. It’s a new sort of vaccine called an mRNA vaccine. This new technology impacts the innate immune response in a special way and the effects remain poorly understood.
There is nothing wrong if people want to rely on nutrition to promote immune health – ensuring sufficient zinc, vitamin C, D etc and relying on expert medical care (including Invermectin) which is proven effective against Covid19 disease in the narrow vulnerable class of persons and as a prophylactic.
It’s concerning when the vast majority of persons are gung-ho about taking a vaccine. This kind of “group think” stifles critical thought and we desperately need a good devil’s advocate in leadership to foster debate.
amen!
AMEN!!! Nor are they recognizing the fact that those who have had Covid, now have natural immunity and do not need a vaccine.
11:31 pm: what is the source of your pronouncement?
Medical and scientific authorities are still recommending that persons who had Covid should be vaccinated.
That is not necessarily so.
9:40 LOVE your post, well said
Okay healing crystals…
9:40 pm: most of what you say is half-baked, inaccurate and simplistic:
1. What would be the medically sound reason to avoid the vaccine so as “to remain healthy for your children”? Epidemiologist say that if the vaccine were to have serious side effects they would be evident by this, given the millions already vaccinated over the six-month period since the first vaccines were rolled out.
Serious side effects show up within a few months, epidemiologists say, and with this information available at our fingertips there is no excuse for us to be clinging to “what-ifs”. There is actually sound scientific and medical data now available—Israel has been conducting post vaccine surveys on impacts etc.
2. Using language such as “mere emergency use authori[sation]” is misleading. The FDA has corrected countless times the impression you are still insisting on spreading.
You can Google it: an EUA does not mean that the vaccine was not “approved” —it means that the FDA gave approval for concurrent trials rather than the standard sequential trials. The vaccine was approved on that basis as safe. The vaccines are not experimental.
3. The mRNA technology had been undergoing research for more than a decade when a good candidate came along—COVID-19. I doubt very much that it’s effects are “poorly understood”, as you assert, after the intensive study by top flight scientist for those many years.
4. Based on all we know about the deadly effects of the vaccine, with some four thousands still dying per day in places like India, and nearly 3.5 million worldwide, it is nothing short of irresponsible for you to declare: “Getting vaccinating is a personal decision based on a sensible risk assessment. That is all there is too it. Others persons are wrong to judge their call. There is no commandment ‘remember to take the vaccine’.” Sounds like the selfish, simplistic utterances of someone who has little understanding of the facts.
5. You are also misunderstanding what “critical thinking” is. It is definitely not “playing devil’s advocate”. Critical thinking is examining the evidence for an argument carefully and arriving at the truth.
Seems to me that you are a long way off from the truth.
I would not so glibly found off, if I were you, giving the deadly nature of the influence you are likely right now having on other people.
12:27 You seem focused on those who may selfishly refuse to take the vaccine. However, there are those who cannot take it because of complicated medical backgrounds. Perhaps you and others can refocus and try to find ways for us to be protected, other than by the risk of taking a vaccine that there is a strong likelihood will cause us harm. Some have braved it and landed in the ER fighting for their lives from the side effects! And please don’t say “it’s only a small percentage” because every life matters. For this small segment of the population it is like playing Russian roulette with our own lives. Those of us in this situation are living in fear of the virus and in fear of the likely side effects of the vaccine! What about us? Why are we being ignored?
9:40 Thank you! I have not taken the vaccine simply because of my health issues and the many questions for which answers are currently unknown. My decision is not because I am ignorant or someone with some farfetched conspiracy theory. The fact is that with this vaccine it seems the majority go unscathed but people with complicated health histories need to be very careful. Although not publicized I am aware that there are a significant number of people who had serious reactions to the vaccine and I’m not willing to put myself in that danger. Not for a vaccine that does not provide immunity, would still allow me to become infected and transmit infection, or worse could kill me. Of course the virus could do so too but at least I can do my best to not become infected. These are serious times folks and we all need to look out for each other with love, respect and understanding, not attack, liable and try to marginalize any one segment of our society.
Pastor as you are quoting from the Bible, you are referring to the God that was created by the white men to look like them. Religion did what it suppose to do and now it’s time to let it go and seek the truth. The God you are serving as ‘he’ ever answer your prayers. Science can be used for good but in this case, it is not, as we will soon see. In any case each of one of us has to save ourselves. Humanity has a choice to make, to get vaccinated or not and this is an individual choice.
8:15 pm: for those of you who keep repeating that getting the vaccine is a “personal choice”, have you considered:
1. What if you infected someone and they died? Covid is a transmissible disease and you can be asymptomatic and pass the virus on.
2. Are you suggesting that everyone should make a personal choice or just you? What if everyone in Cayman—or anywhere else for that matter— makes a personal choice? “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die”? Is that your solution?
3. What if it comes to vaccine being a travel requirement? What will you do? What should the government do you solve your problem?
Pretty crappy god if he can’t just stop the pandemic. Why did he let it start in the first place?
God don’t care, if he loves mankind. It would not be so many diseases like cancer. Virus etc and all those little children suffering with cancer and other diseases, he does nothing to help them, man kind Doctors helps them , but plenty dies. Why don’t God heal them if he cares and loves them ?. Why let them get sick in the first place and punish ?
It’s a test, crappy head! So you can take life for granted with no moral code, bashing the Almighty all you want, crappy! When the exams over, you’ll find out how you perform. 😉
Excellent point and cleverly put.
Why did he cause you to be born to potentially suffer it?
Have you heard of eternity?
If you have to ask.
You could have asked why did He let Eve get seduced by the serpent?
The answer is the same, we have been given a free will to exercise as stupidly and sinfully as we desire.
We have made our own gods and as such, we are responsible for the consequences.
God has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, but this world seems to hate Him for living a sinless life and then paying for our sins at the hands of corrupt government and a filthy religious system.
Much like today, I suppose.
No one will escape the judgement. No one.
so that maybe we may see how desperately we need him my friend
Aw yes, that must be it. 🙄
Free will buddy – this is all about man running his own course…I know who I would prefer to trust…
For those of you who got all wrapped up in his many words. It is OK to to get the vaccine and you should do it!
I think more important things such as continuing destruction of Grand Cayman should be on everyone’s mind, not freaking vaccinations. Medcity and apartment complex approval is truly tragic!!!
Frankly, everyone seems to develop OCD with covid vaccinations. Life was and is normal in Florida for example. Only Cayman seems to be obsessed with it and lost touch with reality.
Thanks for the reference to our neighbour Florida. There are many other good examples. One nursing home I know in Florida had no covid issues – every resident was safe. Another nursing home in Europe had 22 deaths following recent vaccination of residents. Do we really know all there is to know about these emergency use mRNA vaccines?? Is it worth it knowing that the Covid19 mortality risk to children is nil and negligible for others. Is safeguarding a better, more scientific strategy?
CNS: You don’t say where you are getting your information from, but you are possibly referring to this: Fact check: Spanish care home deaths caused by COVID-19, not vaccine
or this: Fact check: Discussion of deaths in elderly vaccine recipients in Norway lacks context
You’re not making any relevant point by knowing of one care home where no one died. One of the terrifying things about this coronavirus, especially in the early days, is that because it spreads so easily, one death often meant many deaths in homes for seniors.
From Public Health England: COVID-19 vaccines have prevented 10,400 deaths in older adults
Is it selfish to not take something that you know little about? If I am selfish for valid reasons, so be it! As far as I know, the same Creator made me to reason and ask questions. I was not made to blindly follow authority be it political or religious!
Yes it is totally selfish to ignore scientific data and probably the largest real world trial for a vaccine that is not only safe, effective and free. You my friend are a moron. You should stay home and not reproduce.
Scientific and data are no longer synonymous with truth.
You my friend, are the moron.
The OP chooses to exercise sound judgement and you get bent out of shape? Take your vaccine, sit down and be quiet.
You and your Christian brethren blindly follow everything else that anyone tells you comes from “God” so I don’t see why you would start questioning things now?
FYI, People who believe in the Creator ask questions too. I have met enough irrational atheists that follow what they see on the internet, plus, they don’t ask questions.
Sure. Whatever helps you sleep better.
While I applaud the head of a church with so many Qanon believers trying to promote getting the vaccine, you literally are still the head of a church of people who pray on a golden t*ump statue. I’m not saying they are stupid but they do believe in 2 false prophets.
Okay, so we can open up then because you’re good, right? God has got you covered and isn’t acting through the doctors and scientists he also created?
We are also blessed with minds to Reason and weigh things before making huge decisions like taking a vaccine!
Alison, thank you for this. I trust that this will be read far and near
6:13pm The same God he refers to in his epistle here created each of us with a brain and therefore each individual has the ability to THINK, REASON, QUESTION & DRAW A CONCLUSION in any area of their life and that includes medical procedures or processes all WITHOUT his long-arm encouragement, BK food or KX raffle tickets for taking the injection 💉 NO ONE can force you or me to undergo any processes or procedures WITHOUT OUR WRITTEN CONSENT … thus before the surgeon oks the beginning of anesthesia hr COUNTER-SIGNS your CONSENT FORM on your file! Why? Because he’s not enabled by profession to do as he pleases but ONLY thru verbal or written consent!
Alson and his family and his congregation can all line up and be jabbed twice, three times or every 6 mths as long as they do so VOLUNTARILY I will never hinder nor discourage and likewise I expect the same IF I choose not to! Quite simply..
I alone, when not incapacitated, or my spouse or children should I unable to give my consent are the ONLY persons on record
to sign permission for my medical procedures!
Let Alson carry on taking the injection 💉 I hope he carried his whole family 👪 😏 cause he has that right but as a supposed man-of-God he should have stated “let everyone be persuaded by their own minds”
XXXX
I’ll use my brain 🧠 that Creator God gave me as He did for him, Jenner and Pasteur and DECIDE ON MY OWN WHAT MEDICAL PROCEDURES I WILL SUBJECT MYSELF TO ….
Amazing. The so many that will follow this Pastor now that he has got the shot and converted to the system. Dissappointed in him. He is not a doctor.
So you think people shouldn’t follow his device because he is not a doctor. But you are not going to get vaccinated despite doctors telling you it is safe an in your self interest? You see the logical contradiction, right?
If you think the science should guide people, then take the CDC and Dr Lees advice. If you think religion should, then maybe you can take his advice as a pastor. If you are just acting on rumor’s an conspiracy theories you glean from the internet, then I m not sure how we would ever satisfy you.
Not following his device!
And I guess what you glean from the intetnet or governments is 100% gospel truth ??? I’m not into Conspiracy theories, but I can tell you, I’m not into mainstream narratives either. Not that gullible. There are elements of truth coming from both camps, and I would rather use my common sense before I place my trust in any kind of medical treatment. That’s my right.
A well respected man … a devout Christian and a stalwart of our Cayman society; A solid voice of reason in troubled times. Thank you Sir for stating this so eloquently.
“Devout” Christian is more like Pharisee.
Can’t bear these religious types that try to maintain their position in society by compromising the true values of Jesus.
Brood of vipers, blind guides, hypocrites, how can they escape the fires of hell?
For years, they have presented Jesus as a figure that only they have access to by their holy titles, fancy costumes and self-righteous clap trap.
This is not the Jesus I know.
Jesus is an awesome person as one would expect from One being the Son of God.
I bow before Jesus, but I spit on organized religion.
At first sight it was shocking to see you say “I bow before Jesus, but I spit on organized religion.” But you started that sentence by saying “I bow before Jesus.” I take it therefore that you do so out of recognition and reverence for who Jesus Christ is.
That puts you much closer to the knowledge of eternal truth than, say, someone who is an Atheist or Agnostic, who either doesn’t reverence or doesn’t recognise Jesus Christ for who He truly is – one and the same with The Great I AM.
Therefore I trust that your reverence to Christ would make it detestable to you that anyone would spit on Christ’s Body or on His Bride that He loves so dearly, the Bride for whose redemption He paid with His very life.
So I hope through the Word of God you will discover what in this present age is The Body of Christ, and who at the end of this age will be celebrating her Marriage to Christ as the Bride of Christ
The Christian assembly of believers i.e. ekklēsia “the church” is both the Body of Christ in this present age of history (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-31), and the Bride of Christ in the age to come (see John 3:29; Ephesians 5:22-33; 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 Revelation 21:2, 9-10; Revelation 22:17).
Now that you have the knowledge to identify the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ, I sincerely hope you will repent from your threat to spit on either of them, and instead accept the gift of God’s grace through faith in the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice to reconcile and plant you into the Body of Christ.
So, you’re singing the same song of Pope Francis who wrote a book in the middle of March this year, calling for a New World Order, and pushing for global vaccination! States, if you don’t get the jab, you are being selfish! Wow… I never thought, Alson, you would join his crew in promoting a medical treatment that we have no knowledge as to how it will affect the human body after 10 or 20 years! Good luck with your self-righteous view, you’re on the right side, and anti-vaxxers the wrong side. Time will tell. Interesting, you are for the natural family unit (its importance of being first), yet what ever happened to natural herd immunity, natural immune system, obeying health laws, and respecting people’s commonsense?
I believe a few things have changed since the good ‘ol days you speak of.
Science has accelerated thanks to technology, data sharing, and new innovations.
The pursuit of natural herd immunity is a noble one, but as has proven in many countries already, the constraint is the health system capacity. How well can a country control/manage community spread and for how long? Eventually the public rebel and say screw the restrictions and new waves hit.
Certain US states seemingly accepted higher death rates, had greater ICU capacities per capita, and took an early and aggressive strategy on vaccines to reach where they are. Other states chose more restrictions and are languishing on with fewer freedoms. Within a few months they will likely all balance out.
The bottom line, vaccines are a tool. Their track record of helping health outcomes is solid and undeniable. Without a high uptake, Cayman may limp along to reopening. It’s all choice. Are making conscious choices or fear based choices?
We’ll learn which country/state had the best strategy soon enough. Hindsight is a beautiful thing.
It is cruel and ignorant to allow the world to perish from unmitigated and unchallenged virus. If left alone it will continue to mutate and India will be repeated globally.
It has to be tackled head on with science and immunology.
The privilege we have of receiving the best of the vaccines for free is almost inexplicable. Yet people are spitting in the face of their good fortune.
Now that’s plain stupid.
Even on an entirely different subject this deranged and frankly unhinged man can’t help but loop in bashing gay people
I thank “God” every day that with each generation we are one step closer to finally being free of this superstitious nonsense
The antivaxers shall inherit the earth, for they shall be trodden into it.
I don’t agree with Pastor Alson’s stance on homosexuality, but I’ve always found him to be a reasonable and good man. I thank him sincerely for coming forward on this important issue that has many religious believers uncertain of what to.
5:05 pm Religious or not EVERYONE has the RIGHT to say NO …
Or are we dealing with Hitlers spawn?
I love my neighbour enough to have gotten the vaccine because I know I’m not just protecting myself, but I’m protecting all those around my by reducing the likelihood that I will transmit this virus even if I should happen to get it.
I would encourage everyone put the safety and wellbeing and health of their community above their own skepticism.
You can still pass it on smh…
And yet, it nevertheless reduces the likelihood of passing it on. smh…
Greatly reduced chance (80-90%) of you doing so.
It is highly unlikely that a vaccinated person will spread covid. That is why the CDC recently announced that vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks. Anyone who cares at all about their community will get vaccinated.
Where you get that from? Seychille vaccinated 60% of their 100,000 population. They opened up and Covid has spread like wild fire on everyone!
CNS: This is from CNN.
The Seychelles is relying on China-made Sinopharm and Covishield, the AstraZeneca vaccine made in India. Of all fully vaccinated people, 57% received Sinopharm, which was given to those ages 18 to 60, while 43% took Covishield, which was given to those over 60.
Around 37% of positive cases from the week to May 8 had been fully vaccinated, the government said, although it has not released data on which vaccines they received.
The Seychelles also opened up to anyone regardless of vaccination status.
1:00 exactly, they clearly want that for Cayman too.
Yes, you can still catch and pass on COVID after being vaccinated, with the same likelihood that you will be bitten by a shark if you swim off 7 Mile Beach every day…it is possible but extremely remote!
But the chances are massively reduced. First your chance of actually catching it is way down – between 95-99%. Then the viral load you have, and how infectious you are as a result, again massively reduced.
5:28 pm: read 5 pm again: vaccinations REDUCE the likelihood of transmitting the virus.
Note breaking need: the CDC is recommending lifting of some restrictions on vaccinated persons.
If God tells you to get it, then get it. If God tells you not to get it, then don’t get it. Don’t argue with God – it will just end badly.
🙊
6:13 pm, God dosen’t tell anyone anything, if they say God told them some thing to do, they lied big time. Like some People say God told them to run for election M P, lie , it never happened
Thank you for this, Pastor Alson. God Bless you.
7:41 pm; it is not either/or. We can do both: address the population’s need fot vaccinations AND take action on environmental and—don’t forget social —degradation.
As for “…life was and is normal in Florida”, try Googling “Mayo Clinic Florida Covid Map”.
Here are sone recommendations from the Mayo Clinic for Florida:
“In areas where coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading quickly, it’s best to stay at home as much as possible, especially if you’re at higher risk of serious illness from the virus.
“In communities where COVID-19 isn’t spreading, you may be able to travel, visit restaurants and public places, and enjoy safe outdoor activities. Read our tips to venture out safely.
“If you go to public places, minimize your interactions. That includes the number of people you interact with, as well as how close you get and how much time you spend.
“Follow these precautions
“Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it’s available to you.
“Wear a face mask properly.
“Maintain social distancing.
“Get a flu shot, if you haven’t done so already.
“Wash your hands frequently.
“Clean and disinfect surfaces. “
And yes I know the CDC has issued new guidelines. However, I did see the CDC being interviewed on TV this Sunday morning (16th). She said it is up to each state to decide on own recommendations based on prevailing conditions.