Vaccines

Every now and then we have a discussion about vaccination. There are pros and cons. I am not going to judge the process and success or failure of any vaccine. I would like rather to look at the spiritual and social concept of vaccination or rather how we approach the possibility of death.

The main purpose of vaccination is to build an immune system in our body that will be able to resist or reject a virus or another small creature dangerous to life. I believe many of us had some vaccinations in the past. When I was a small child everybody in Europe had to build immunity to tuberculosis. Yes, I took a vaccine and I was fine. My sister in law took one too and as a side effect she got asthma. Now there is a dilemma. If she didn't take a vaccine she would not suffer from asthma so in her case this vaccination actually made her worse.

This moral dilemma will be always among us. Some people are naturally prepared to fight some kinds of illness, other not too much. Nature is not fair. Nature never will be fair. It cares about the strength of the spices. A pack of wolves doesn't run after the strongest elk, but after the weakest. Sometimes nature erased nearly an entire population of some species and later on it rebuilt itself with much stronger members. I know, it doesn't sound that compassionate and Christian.

As people we live in a conflict between the nature and our ability. Nature goes its own way surprising us every time. Our modern medicine fights these surprises trying to prolong our life. At the end nature always wins because we have to die.

Our latest experience with COVID shows that this rule didn't change. People being exposed to the virus react in so many different ways that even science is lost with finding the answer. Or maybe there is no answer because even grace is built on the human nature. Some people live 20, others 50 and others 90 years. There is no rule and fair game.

I know that this is a very difficult topic, especially if someone lost their loved one. But if we open ourselves more to an understanding of our fragility, being temporary on earth, our purpose --then this entire fear of death will change and will make us more appreciative. A friend of mine who is a doctor at a hospital said that it is much easier to be with a dying person that believes in God. There is a peace and some kind of connection with God. Our nature in directed to God. Our ancestors knew about it. They prayed to St. Joseph for a good death. Unfortunately we pray just for life. Maybe this is the reason why we are so afraid to face the truth of our nature. Vaccines might only prolong our life but they cannot make us immortal.