califlorican

I think there was another one before that did use the words “measure of protection”. I don’t have access to the letters though

They have absolutely said it outright. It was in a letter, as previously mentioned. It also is implied by the fact that special full-time servants who are vaccinated are allowed to meet together with others who have been vaccinated. We were recently able to spend time socially with some special pioneers in our cong. after they asked us if we’ve been fully vaccinated because that was the rule set out by the branch. The GB does not take this lightly, so to allow this obviously means something. Just because something is a personal decision doesn’t mean one isn’t more of a protection than another. Most healthcare choices are a personal decision, but some choices are more protective than others- that’s just how it goes. Wearing sunscreen is a personal choice, but it has been made pretty clear that people who wear sunscreen are more protected than those who go without.

Brother, I’m not sure if these are rhetorical questions or not. But if I can just answer a few: Originally it was thought that COVID-19 was not much of a risk to most healthy children. Now with the variants, that has changed. This virus is mutating. This is why it’s so important to “get ahead of it”, so to speak (even though we really haven’t been able to due to other factors, sadly). As I mentioned before, the vaccine’s biggest protection is against severe hospitalization and death. Even the Governing Body has stated that the vaccine does provide a higher measure of protection! I know you may not trust the secular authorities, but we all trust the GB has prayed and PRAYED for guidance on how to handle this, and it seems that they trust the medical experts. The vaccine was developed so quickly because a) they had all the resources and none of the red tape they usually work with and b) the technology was already there. There’s no conspiracy here! That’s just the power of unlimited funds and thousands of people working to get it done. Also, immunity does not always last a lifetime, and other vaccines require boosters. I had to have a second chicken pox vaccine as an adult, and tetanus is supposed to be redone every 10 years. Jehovah has created our bodies to be amazing at many things, but sadly our immune systems aren’t perfect, so they do need a “boost” at times. I’m not trying to tell anyone to get the vaccine by the way, just trying to clear up some things! And maybe our resident virus expert can correct anything I may have gotten wrong 😄

The main goal of the COVID-19 vaccine is to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Considering that >95% of those dying in the USA right now are unvaccinated or partly vaccinated this means that the vaccine is effective. The problem right now is that the virus has had time to continue to mutate, such that the vaccine isn’t as effective. The longer this goes on, the more the virus will mutate- who knows what that will mean for future vaccinations.

I think everyone should read these stories. Even if it doesn’t make someone want to get vaccinated, hopefully it will make them remain cautious even while so many others aren’t. My heart hurts for everyone affected.

This article breaks my heart. I hope some who are eligible for the vaccine and still hesitant take in what doctors are saying right now. “96% of Alabamians who’ve died from COVID since April were not fully vaccinated” is such a scary thing to read. Most of these deaths could likely have been prevented if not for so much fear mongering about the vaccine.

I think it’s possible it was an accidental leak, though I’m not sure how it would’ve happened. I really don’t see China allowing the investigation to happen; they weren’t truthful about the seriousness of COVID and how many deaths occurred (they claim only 4600 deaths since the start of this whole mess...yeah right). There’s a very, very important concept of Chinese culture regarding “face” (mianzi)- saving face to avoid shame or embarrassment, and you can make someone “lose face” if you show any disrespect or dishonor to them. So yeah, I don’t see them ever allowing an investigation into this.

Another thing that’s been mentioned- the longer the virus goes on, the more it will mutate and the less effective the current vaccines could be. That doesn’t mean vaccination doesn’t work; it just means more work will be done for an updated vaccine and/or a booster might be needed to account for the variants.

Why within a year?

Do people actually believe that the vaccines aren’t working as they should? If you look at this time last year, there were 1000+ deaths per day due to COVID in the entire US. Now it’s down to much, much less: 100-400 in the country depending on the day. Still a lot but not nearly as many. And when you consider that most states are fully “open” this year compared to last year’s lockdowns, it’s even better sounding. Experts have been saying since last year that a vaccine alone would not end the virus. I don’t think anyone reasonable still thinks that getting vaccinated is a 100% guarantee. What it is is another good measure of prevention/protection for many from serious illness and death. I’m fine with people not getting vaccinated if they don’t think it’s right for them, but we can’t ignore that they do have a benefit and the GB agrees with that.

Yes I know. What I’m saying is that no children under 12 can be vaccinated right now, so essentially saying “unvaccinated won’t be allowed” means all children under 12 wouldn’t either. It just doesn’t make any sense.

Was this an announcement to all congregations in the US branch? I also don’t understand where your friend is getting that information from; children can’t be vaccinated and I don’t see how the government would allow every child under the age of 12 to be left behind in an evacuation just because they aren’t vaccinated.

I’m curious if opinions will change with more recent testing/updates, like the one here: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.21.21259268v1.full-text

It’ll work for those who are vaccinated. And most of the people who refuse to get vaccinated were rarely wearing masks to start with lol it doesn’t make a big difference. And as someone in California, I’d say at least 75% people I see in stores or elsewhere are still wearing their masks. And 100% of employees are still wearing them, as far as I can tell. They are waiting until OSHA (occupational safety) approves of no masks to stop requiring them.

I don’t understand what they’re upset about. As far as I read, the bill just means that violence due to homophobia would now be classified as a hate crime. Does anyone else know what the Vatican would find issue with? Those laws already exist in a lot of countries, right?