Skip to main content

More on Vaccines

Image
By
 +
JMJ

 

 So it is clear that taking the COVID-19 vaccines - even those morally tainted - is permissible according to Catholic Teaching.

The question that remains for me is one of risk vs benefit.

For example the UK has started its vaccination program and there have been two anaphylactic reactions. Other results look good so far ...

With recent polls showing that a sizeable number of Canadians will refuse a vaccine altogether, or will wait some time before lining up for a shot, Pinnow said he wants Canadians to be assured the product is safe. CBC.ca

What follows is my personal approach to vaccination

 As with the H1N1 vaccination program, I will take a rational risk vs benefit approach by:

  • Reviewing the "monograph" data looking for the adverse events (risks) and contraindications.
  • Compare this with the dangers of the disease and potential adverse reactions to both the person being vaccinated and the persons they would come in contact with (in this case the elderly).
  • Assess alternative vaccines that are available to me and my family (ie morally untainted vaccines).

  With the H1N1 the adverse events were as bad and in the same likelihood as the vaccination.  So we elected to not vaccinate.

 A key input to this process is the drug monograph, that will be publicly available. An example of the Pfizer monograph is available here.  

Key Sections and points from the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine monograph:

  • Indications: This section indicates when and to whom a drug should be administered.  It will sometimes contain information about specific sections of the population.
    •  To prevent COVID-19
    • For individual 16 years of age and older.
    • Safety and efficacy has not been established for those under 16 years of age
    • Geriatric safety and efficacy was tested.
  • Contraindications: This section indicate who should NOT receive the medication.
    • People who are hypersensitive to active substance or ingredient in the formulation (see list)
    • People suffer from severe allergies should be cautious (noted in England and Canada)
  • Serious warning and Precautions: No explanation necessary :-)
  • Warnings and Precautions: Similar to above.
    • If you have a fever - postpone receiving the vaccination.
    • Vaccination does not automatically convey immunity
    • Immunization may not be optimal until at least 7 days after the second dose. 
    • If you have a bleeding disorder or receiving anticoagulant - defer
    • Pregnant women - no safety data
    • Breast-feeding - no safety data
  • Adverse Reactions: Bad reactions to the vaccination.
    • injection site pain ( 84.1%), 
    • fatigue (62.9%),
    • headache (55.1%), 
    • muscle pain (38.3%), 
    • chills (31.9%),
    • joint pain (23.6%) 
    • fever (14.2%) 
    • were usually mild or moderate in intensity and resolved within a few days after vaccination.

Of interest is that some people developed swollen lymph nodes.

So for me it is simple, moral implications aside:

  1. The vaccine is effective about 95% of the time
  2. It should not be given to: pregnant or breastfeeding women, youth under the age of 16 or people with the other contraindications.
  3. The risks of taking the vaccine are less than the worse case Canadian data.  

The following graphs were taken from infobase Canada.

Distribution of Hospitalized Cases

So, 70.5% of hospitalization are over the age of 60, and the distribution follow a rough 10% per decade of age distribution. 

The danger is the false sense of security that the young will feel in looking at this data.  Their sense of mortality is typically ill-developed. While the odds sound 'great' for them, the reality is that they can dramatically increase the odds against them by their behaviour.

Distribution of Deaths

 While some carry over their false sense of security when looknig at the numbers,the reality is that although COVID is particularly dangerous to the elderly (see above). But this doesn't guarantee a young person that they will escape death.  While all the young cases that I know have had only minor symptoms (head-ache, fever, lack of taste, difficulty breathing) a young man of 20 died last week.

So, be wise in your behaviour and precautions.

P^3

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

By
 + JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them.   I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest.  This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis?  When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due.   This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tradical Commentary on: Restore DC Catholicism: SSPX And Austrilian Bishops - Two Different Errors

By
+ JMJ An interesting thing has happened on the discussion that prompted my article on whether it is sinful to attend the Novus Ordo Missae .  The blog owner of RDCC has shut down discussion by locking the article. That is their prerogative, but I am puzzled as to why? Perhaps it has something to do with some of the latter comments. They didn't believe the teaching on intention with regards to confecting the Sacraments.  This is not the first time I've experienced incredulity on this topic ( reference articles ). Really this isn't about what they believe but the truth. They seem to believe that the objections to the Novus Ordo Missae are simply about "overly delicate sensibilities".  In response to this I am reblogging a number of articles by the SSPX. Perhaps it was the comment made by Bishop Schneider, a currently well revered hero (who deserved the accolades) but apparently has said something similar to the SSPX.   I suspect that it is more...
Post a Comment
Read more

Australia: Seal of the Confessional Outlawed at the Federal Level

By
+ JMJ This is simply another step in the attack on the Catholic Church. Interestingly, California's attempt to do the same failed. P^3 Courtesy of FSSPX.news Australia: Seal of the Confessional Outlawed at the Federal Level December 19, 2019 Source: fsspx.news On December 2, 2019, the Australian Conference of Bishops (ACBC) denounced the agreement between the Attorneys General of each state and the Australian federal government, with the aim of standardizing the laws imposing on priests the obligation to denounce any alleged fact of ill-treatment of minors that would be learned in the context of the sacrament of penance. “Counterproductive and unjust” are the terms with which Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane and President of the ACBC, denounced the new prejudicial legal norms on the sacramental seal of the confessional in Australia. The attorneys gener...
Post a Comment
Read more

Comparision of the Tridentine, Cranmer and Novus Ordo Masses

By
+ JMJ I downloaded the comparison that was linked in the previous article on the mass (here) . ... a very good reference! P^3 From: Whispers of Restoration (available at this link) . CHARTING LITURGICAL CHANGE Comparing the 1962 Ordinary of the Roman Mass to changes made during the Anglican Schism; Compared in turn to changes adopted in the creation of Pope Paul VI’s Mass in 1969 The chart on the reverse is a concise comparison of certain ritual differences between three historical rites for the celebration of the Catholic Mass Vetus Ordo: “Old Order,” the Roman Rite of Mass as contained in the 1962 Missal, often referred to as the “Traditional Latin Mass.”The Ordinary of this Mass is that of Pope St. Pius V (1570) following the Council of Trent (1545-63), hence the occasional moniker “Tridentine Mass.” However, Trent only consolidated and codified the Roman Rite already in use at that time; its essential form dates to Pope St. Gregory the Great (+604), in whose time the R...
Post a Comment
Read more

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

By
+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3
Post a Comment
Read more