If you're like me, you're probably getting a little worn out with all the blast of COVID headlines, emails, social media posts, and the endless parade of comments to all the before mentioned communications. But at the same time, this is unchartered waters for all of us and we are compelled to try to understand what is going on and what we need to do to navigate this storm. Most are dependent on news outlets for their information. Unfortunately this information can be both overwhelming and frustratingly inconsistent (whether by design or surreptitiously).
Inconsistent you say? Well, how about this. When the virus began making major news in the US, there was confusion about how the virus was transmitted. Was it airborne or transmitted through bodily fluids/substances? So we were told to wear masks out in public. But then, we were told that it was not airborne but required person-to-person contact much like other viruses. Perhaps this is not as much a contradiction as it seems, as coming into contact with cough droplets or other bodily projections (e.g., saliva) may include flying through the air. But the confusing part came with mixed messages about the need for a mask. Wear it so you won't get the virus droplets on you...oh, wait a minute, the masks don't stop the droplets containing the virus, and then finally, no, wear the mask so you don't put others at risk from your cough droplets. Wait a minute, I thought the mask didn't stop the virus?...confusing.
Now before I go any further let me say that I am not at all diminishing the severity of this virus. While I have not personally met anyone yet who has been formally diagnosed with the virus or anyone who lost somebody to the disease, I think one would have to be pretty naive, if not outright psychotic, not to think that the world faces an enemy unlike that ever seen. Yes, COVID-19 exists and my heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones to its fury. On the other hand, I also will say that there isn't much doubt in my mind that this pandemic provides the perfect storm for politicians, healthcare and even clergy, to seize the moment to promote agendas that are well outside the scope of this virus. And I'll leave it at that for the time being.
So now, back to the inconsistencies. Social distancing. You know, maintain the six feet thing. We cannot gather for some things, like small businesses, church services, etc. but can stand in line at large retail outlets for extended periods of time in the presence of many others. It doesn't seem to matter that are practicing the principles of social distancing, e.g., 6 six separation, hand washing/hand sanitizing, etc., but one environment is deemed an acceptable gathering while the other is not. I thought the idea was 6 feet, sanitation, and not sneezing on each other?...inconsistent.
And now, one of the bigger inconsistencies that I've seen so far. Vaccines and Antibody testing. Vaccines in this country have already proven to be a lightning rod and now, it seems that many have their faith in a vaccine for the prevention of the COVID 19 virus. Now, what exactly is a vaccine? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vpd-vac-basics.html), a vaccine:
... contain the same germs that cause disease. (For example, measles vaccine contains measles virus, and Hib vaccine contains Hib bacteria.) But they have been either killed or weakened to the point that they don’t make you sick. Some vaccines contain only a part of the disease germ. A vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.
Key in this definition is stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies.
Now, consider this. The World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement on April 17th, 2020 (https://nypost.com/2020/04/17/who-warns-that-coronavirus-antibody-may-not-prove-immunity/) something to this effect:
“These antibody tests will be able to measure that level of serology presence, that level of antibodies, but that does not mean that somebody with antibodies” is immune, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO’s emerging diseases unit, CNBC.com reported.
and then...
...Added Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program, “Nobody is sure whether someone with antibodies is fully protected against having the disease or being exposed again.”
Ok, so the CDC says the purpose of a vaccine is to stimulate your immune system to produce antibodies that will protect us from the disease. WHO says, there is no evidence that COVID 19 antibodies makes us immune. Huh?!!! So why is everyone from the government to Bill Gates screaming for a vaccine and seeing a vaccine as the medical messiah for this disease? If we're going by the assumption that a healthy immune system is our best protection from the virus, why not talk about a full cocktail of "preventative" measures that target strengthening the immune system? Things like diet, nutrition, stress control, all of which have established empirical data that demonstrate their contributions to a healthy immune system...I'm thinking there's a fox in the henhouse and as my 7th grade math teacher said, Horse Sense, boys and girls, horse sense!
Remember people. God gave us a brain. There is a specific part of that brain that is responsible for horse sense, otherwise known as common sense. Let us not fail to use it to critically evaluate the times in which we live. Talk again next Friday!