IS BEING PRO-VACCINE INCOMPATIBLE WITH BEING PRO-LIFE? - #2

Some are influenced by the numerous conspiracy theories circulating online. These include the theory that the vaccine is part of a conspiracy to either control everyone (potentially led by Bill Gates) or create a political or economic reset (which to be fair might well happen anyway!) Some relate this to biblical prophecy that the vaccine is fulfilment of the ‘mark of the beast’ from Revelation 13:15-17. This idea has been promoted by, amongst others, Kanye West. It is just one of numerous eschatological speculations that have disturbed Christians over the years, and is detached from a faithful exegesis of Revelation 13. The idea of the ‘mark of the beast’ is symbolic rather than literal and refers to those who are known to have worshipped the beast rather than God. There is a sense in which all unbelievers bear the mark of the beast because they belong to the kingdom of Satan, whereas Christians have been redeemed into the kingdom of God and now bear Jesus’ name.

 We should be mindful that there are a range of conspiracy views, some more credible than others and that there are deeply held convictions about certain prophetic texts. We are also not to be naïve that there may well be ‘normal’ commercial forces at work in some aspects of dealing with the pandemic. However, as Christians we must stand for truth, which means rejecting false claims which are not backed up by evidence and as such are slanderous.

 Others have legitimate concerns about the safety of the vaccines. They fear that the normal rigorous testing procedures have been foreshortened in the rush to develop a vaccine and that the risks of vaccination are not known. They fear side effects, and there is some evidence from Norway that the vaccination may cause death in patients who are frail, elderly and seriously ill. Some might have read that the new mRNA technique used might alter our DNA in some harmful way (a claim firmly refuted by the scientists). This hesitancy requires a rational judgement to be made between risk and benefit. No medical intervention is risk-free and there are always potential side effects. Government and regulatory bodies have issued assurances that the testing process has not been less rigorous, but that the usual tests have been conducted in parallel rather than in sequence. These kinds of concerns can only be answered by data and evidence, and we must respect that individuals are free to make a judgement for themselves.