Some 2,000 people in the U.S. died from Covid-19 this past week, and those numbers will go up as cases are increasing.
- Around 99% were un-vaccinated, and many were under 60.
- What do you think about that?

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Imagine 2,000 people died this past week from drinking poisoned water when they had an option to drink purified water instead, but chose not to because they didn't trust the purification process, nor the pronouncements by the water dept. that it was safe?

- What would you think about that?

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Imagine 2,000 people died this past week from explosions while taking a shortcut over a large field with landmines placed at random places. They could have easily gone around, or worn armor to protect themselves, but decided to "take their chances" as some of the mines were duds and most people who went through the field made it to the other side.

- What would you think about that?
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Imagine 2,000 people died from a Category 5 hurricane in an area where it was predicted for days and evacuation encouraged, but they refused to do so because they thought weather forecasting was a hoax.

- What would you think about that?

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Imagine the wealthiest nation in the world with a huge excess of life-saving vaccines that some 30% of its people refused to take, while other countries are being savaged by the disease this vaccine prevents. When a shipment comes in to those poor countries, people stand in line for hours, hoping there will be enough for when their place in line comes up.

- What do you think about that?

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I know people have all kinds of reasons for not getting vaccinated, and I've probably heard them all in dialogues across social media. Most are based on misinformation about the vaccine and Covid-19, and that's tragic -- also inexcusable, as the info has been out there to research for months. Others are counting on natural means to strengthen the immune system, and I wish you well. Why not take a both/and approach, however? A few have medical conditions that might be exacerbated by the vaccine; two people I know with this situation are doing everything they can to protect themselves, but are frustrated by others' cavalier attitude.

We will hobble along to herd immunity, perhaps with more variants developing in the huge gene pool that un-vaccinated people around the world are leaving open (most through no fault of their own). It took decades to eradicate polio and smallpox, and so it will go with Covid-19. Perhaps the next variants will be less contagious and harmful; perhaps even worse than Delta. Who knows?

In the moral and spiritual life, Prudence is the virtue that points us to do what we can do to help ourselves without relying presumptively on miracles and good luck. Vaccines for Covid-19 provide an opportunity for individuals to help/protect themselves and others. Preachers ought to be connecting this with Prudence while respecting others' deliberations in conscience. As long as misinformation is widely circulating, however, conscience cannot be properly formed. We need an all-out push-back on Covid vaccine misinformation. Please do your part.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.or...nes-myth-versus-fact