Vaccination

This week, our Mitzvah focuses on vaccination.

Right now, the pace of vaccination has slowed down to such a degree that states are coming up with incentives to convince people to get vaccinated. Because so many Americans are reluctant, for whatever reason, to receive the vaccine, we are stalled on the way to achieving herd immunity, which will protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

Vaccination has gone from being a public health initiative to a political issue. In our polarized nation, low rates of vaccination are often associated with certain political views and affiliations. This week, let's take the dialogue from the national stage to the very personal perspective. Let's look inside ourselves first, and then seek to raise awareness in others.

Self-awareness and educating ourselves are key. People have all sorts of personal reasons for not wanting to be vaccinated. Some really fundamental ones include fear, distrust, and past experiences. One particularly frequent reason given is the newness of the vaccines -- certainly a legitimate concern!

With all that in mind, here are some links with information about the vaccines and how they work.
Keep in mind that these particular articles focus on the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna). 

• The CDC page on mRNA vaccines:
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html
• The story of scientist Kati Kariko's years of research into mRNA, which made the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines possible:
  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/health/coronavirus-mrna-kariko.html
• How delivery via lipid shells makes it possible for mRNA to work: https://cen.acs.org/pharmaceuticals/drug-delivery/Without-lipid-shells-mRNA-vaccines/99/i8
• The CDC page on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine:
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/janssen.html

Here are a few articles that shed light on the reluctance to vaccinate:

• Quit Ignoring Natural COVID Immunityhttps://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/92836

• Immunity to the Coronavirus May Persist for Years, Scientists Findhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/health/coronavirus-immunity-vaccines.html

• Dr. Christine Northrup
  https://www.brighteon.com/2aaed9bc-aa22-4da2-bdf8-2b0f2059983a

• Cleveland Clinic: Already Had COVID? Vaccine Provides No Added Benefithttps://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/92836