What role do we have to play, in the healing of the world?
Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.
Romans 15:2 (ESV)
When our Director Louise invited me to write something for our members, I immediately felt moved to write about vaccines protecting against Covid-19. I must admit I share my thoughts, not as an expert in epidemiology or medical science but as a mum, to a child who is considered clinically extremely vulnerable.
I think with any subject, a good place to start is thanksgiving. I feel blessed that God has given people the capacity, motivation and expertise to undertake a medical enterprise that will benefit the whole of humankind. Christians over the centuries have been at the forefront of medical science, wanting to use their God given skills to reduce suffering, prevent disease and uphold human dignity. They pioneered the modern day hospital, hospices and a wide number of medical ministries. In fact, the first vaccination was developed by a Dr Edward Jenner, a devout Christian. In 1778 he published research that found administering fluid from a cowpox sore would immunize against smallpox. God’s created and ordered world allows for scientific research and can serve as a blessing for us all.
The choice to have a vaccination is a personal decision but unlike other decisions we might make, it does have an impact beyond the personal. Many vaccinations work on the principle of herd immunity and reducing the rate of transmission. This is incredibly important when safeguarding those who are additionally vulnerable and more susceptible to worse outcomes from disease. For our son, who due to his age cannot yet be given a vaccination against Covid 19, his safety is directly related to the presence of covid amongst the people he comes into contact with. Masks and social distancing are great examples of low risk interventions that help us show our love for our neighbour. I would argue that vaccinations are another step that help us to protect those around us and those we are called to love. Currently in the UK, 2 million people are on the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ list with a further 7 million in category 6 for vaccination – that is those with underlying health conditions that put them at a higher risk of serious disease or mortality. And let us not forget, tragically over 128,000 have lost their lives to the coronavirus in the UK and 3.6 million people worldwide. Clearly, loving our neighbour includes not putting them at risk of harm, and an important way we can protect those in our community is to be vaccinated.
It would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that some Christians will want to consider ethical factors related to human life and the use of the fetal cell lines in vaccine development. I do not have extensive knowledge on these issues and would advise you if you would like to know more to read up on this from experts in the field. However we must ensure that meaningful intentions do not lead us to faulty conclusions or generalisations. We have a duty to understand where our news comes from and the authority of the sources we read. The issue of abortion is complex and Christians, in good conscience, may take different and opposing views. It is my perspective, especially as cell cultures from on-going terminations are not used, that the burden of this moral area should not fall on the health situation of the entire population, especially the most vulnerable. What is the common good for those whom we are responsible for now – the elderly, vulnerable and lonely?
Also perhaps the greater and more challenging ethical issue is ensuring equitable access to vaccinations across the world, especially to the world’s poorest communities. If there is one thing the pandemic has shown us, is that all of our lives are interwoven with each others’ lives and health. Just as with other vaccinations combating child born illnesses, vaccinations against Covid-19 cannot be the preserve of the rich. Preservation of life should not be a privilege but a right.
Let me finish where I began. The medical historian H.E. Sigerist wrote that “Christianity came into the world as a religion of healing…” We must ask ourselves ‘what role do we have to play in the healing of the world?’. This is true in so many areas, but very much so in the current times we are living in. Often we feel disempowered from making a difference but being vaccinated against Covid-19 is one very practical way that we can live in community well and share the love of God to our neighbours. Neighbours, like my vulnerable but vibrant son, who need others to step up and keep him as safe as possible.
Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.
Romans 15:2 (ESV)
