Exploring Vaccines, Freedom and Loving Our Neighbour

21 January 2022 | St Albans, UK [David Neal with Vanesa Pizzuto]

In a COVID-19 symposium hosted by The Trans-European Division (TED) leadership, professionals from different disciplines answered key questions about the coronavirus pandemic, personal liberties, and the use of vaccines.

The 19^th of January symposium, “Vaccines, Freedom and Loving Our Neighbour” was broadcast via the TED YouTube channel, with over 400 viewers watching live and nearly 3,000 more views at the time of writing. Four presentations were given by two medical doctors, a theologian, and an attorney, followed by eighty minutes for questions and answers.

Ganoune Diop, PhD, director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, explored the nature and scope of religious freedom.  While explicitly supporting individual choices, Diop stated that “personal conviction is not corporate responsibility” and called the COVID-19 pandemic “a public health issue, a life and death issue… not one of religious liberty”. Diop spent the last part of his presentation debunking common myths about the vaccine. “To reduce the mark of the beast to a vaccine is simply sacrilegious,” said Diop who also called people not to “weaponize vaccination” and to respect those we disagree with.

Attorney Jennifer Woods, PARL associate director at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, explored the history of vaccination and its importance in eradicating diseases. Woods also discussed vaccination mandates and the tension between protecting individual liberties and public health. “To ethically justify mandates, the benefits must outweigh the risks,” said she. Wood concluded her presentation reflecting on why some vaccine objections aren’t a religious liberty issue and why Christians should be careful when considering this matter.

Dr Peter Landless, the director of Health Ministry department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, shared thoughts on how to live wisely through and beyond the pandemic. While affirming the importance of a healthy lifestyle and natural remedies, Landless emphasised “It is not an either/or, it’s a both/and”. “Trust in God is foundational, and important adjuvant, though, is immunization”. Landless concluded his presentation highlighting the importance of honouring and respecting all views.

Dr Carlos Casiano, professor of Medicine of Microbiology at Loma Linda University, was the final speaker and provided an overview of the current scientific and medical understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. Casiano affirmed that “COVID-19 is the third most deadly pandemic of the last 100 years”, following the Spanish flu and the HIV/AIDS pandemics. “5.5 million people died from COVID-19” and the numbers are likely to increase once “excess deaths are computed”. As the pandemic “will not go away”, Casiano urged viewers to take a responsible and scientifically informed approach. Casiano also explained the importance of wearing appropriate masks and why wearing one “does not mean breathing your own carbon dioxide”. The last part of this presentation was dedicated to explaining how vaccines work, what is inside them, and why even vaccinated people catch COVID-19. “Vaccines do not prevent infections from entering our bodies, but they do prevent severe diseases caused by those agents,” emphasized Casiano

Question time

Patrick Johnson, TED Ministerial Association Secretary, led a round table dynamic giving the speakers an opportunity to answer many of the questions submitted both in advance and during the presentations. Some of these questions included: “Are you satisfied with the long-term safety of the vaccines currently in use?”, “How do we check claims for veracity?”, “What if a vaccine is mandated to attend church?” among many other thought-provoking questions. The speakers concluded their questions and answers time highlighting that the Adventist health message and vaccination – particularly in the context of a public health emergency – go hand in hand. They do antagonise but complement each other.

More resources:

• An Official Statement on Immunization
• COVID-19 Vaccines: Addressing Concerns, Offering Counsel…
• The Adventist “Health Message” Unpacked
• Concerns Regarding COVID-19, Church Governance, and Liberty of Conscience