"Why accept Covid vaccine?"

Two and a half weeks ago I received my second vaccination from Pfizer. I am now fully vaccinated. One of the reasons we decided to stay in the U.S. longer before our return to South Sudan was for this reason. Kristi is also fully vaccinated.

Second Vaccination, Pfizer

Around the same time I received my second dose, Rev. Philip Obang Akway, our colleague and friend in Juba, received his first dose of Astra-Zeneca. He posted on Facebook on April 10th, “My first dose today in Juba Military Hospital with Coronavirus Vaccine to fight COVID-19. Safe and effective.”

Rev. Philip's vaccination card (from Facebook post)

As a church leader, Rev. Philip feels motivated to help South Sudanese understand the vaccine and to know what to do. He attended a vaccination workshop for health and social workers, introducing him and others to the vaccination process for Covid-19. The idea for the workshop was to bring helpful information which would help facilitate the vaccination effort in South Sudan. Around the time of this workshop, 132,000 doses of Astra-Zeneca arrived in Juba. After posting about his experience of receiving his first dose, Rev Philip posted again that same day, responding to the feelings of uncertainty and unease expressed by many in Juba concerning the vaccine. He began his second post with the question, "Why accept Covid vaccine?"

Rev. Philip described how some South Sudanese prophets, Biblical teachers and preachers devise different theological and spiritual ideas which will he believes will confuse Christian congregations. In response to the expressed concerns and misinformation, Rev. Philip shared some of the information he learned at the workshop, substantiating the vaccination effort. He shared several interesting and helpful tidbits, such as:

The COVID-19 vaccine will weaken coronavirus which currently threatens the church from gathering for worship
The COVID-19 vaccine is scientifically studied, and even made from physical elements which God has created, citing the goodness of God’s creation (Gen1:31), noting how “the devil did not create anything”
The COVID-19 vaccine is free, and that no one will be forced to take it
The COVID-19 vaccine is similar to other vaccines we already take

For those still concerned, he encouraged his Facebook followers to “purify the vaccine [in their hearts] and bless it to be good for your health through prayers." He thus encouraged faith coupled with tangible action. Rev. Philip’s efforts met some resistance on Facebook. One person commented how they (e.g., Bill Gates, China) are bringing harmful things to Africa to destroy the people and take their resources. Sadly, due to the tragic legacy of colonialism and current economic and political neo-colonial realities, Africans are justified in feeling this way, exhibiting mistrust to foreign entities. Yet, Rev. Philip maintains his well established argument for choosing to get vaccinated. Tragically, 60,000 doses of Astra-Zeneca went to waste in South Sudan because of negative messaging and uncertainty.

 Rev. Philip, after vaccination, with mask

   hanging below chin (from Facebook post) 

Whether in South Sudan, the United States, Brazil, or elsewhere in the world, it feels like getting vaccinated when one has the opportunity to do so is the better half of wisdom. As many have said already, the potential side effects of the vaccination are acceptable in comparison to the havoc Covid-19 can potentially wreak on the body. Being vaccinated will not only bring a level of protection to our own bodies, it will help slow the spread of this virus which has brought so much destruction to lives and livelihoods across the globe.

I found this website helpful for addressing concerns about the vaccine: https://getvaccineanswers.org/. If you have reasons to be concerned regarding any specific health issues you face (e.g. potential allergic reaction), please see your primary care physician before getting vaccinated. Alternative therapies exist, but I do not believe they substitute the robust effects and proven efficacy of major vaccines being administered in the U.S., Europe, and parts of Africa. We need one another to get through this pandemic, saving both lives and livelihoods, and helping us all to achieve a level of normalcy. May the Lord guide us collectively, and guide us individually in our attitudes, actions, and decisions.