By now most people in the U.S. and beyond are aware that the initial round of Covid-19 vaccine was distributed and administered to first responders in our land on Monday, December 14.
Seemingly almost as significant as the first moon landing by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969, Monday’s news thoroughly covered the first vaccination recipients.
It was rather dramatic seeing a young Jamaican immigrant nurse in New York receive her shot, caringly, deliberately, and professionally administered by a fellow health care worker.
Under Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government’s coronavirus-response program, a total of 55 sites nationwide had received vaccine shipments by around noon on Monday, with about 600 additional locations scheduled to receive shipments by Wednesday.
Pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Vaxart, and AstraZeneca were at the forefront in vaccine research and development. Their stock prices responded significantly, one of them increasing by more than 3,000% year-to-date.
What everyone wants to know, yours truly included, is when will it be OK to quit wearing those annoying masks? Some have questioned their effectiveness from the get-go. But masks are worn by almost everyone at most places I go these days. No doubt in many cases not willingly.
Though I cannot speak for everyone, most folks I know are just plain tired of the interruptions and inconveniences imposed upon their lives by this unwelcomed intruder called Covid-19, a coronavirus bringing with it the non-everyday household term pandemic.
Much more significant and tragic has been the infection of millions, resulting in more than 300,000 deaths in our country, reportedly connected directly or indirectly with Covid-19. Sadly, COVID has delayed if not permanently forestalled appropriate and traditional funeral gatherings.
Just this past week, three longtime friends of mine passed away. Gone, at least for the moment, are the heavily attended memorial services facilitating both the grieving process for surviving loved ones and the opportunity for friends and relatives to demonstrate their love and respect for the deceased.
One of my departed friends had requested that I preach at her memorial service. Because the service will be in Houston, currently experiencing a notable COVID spike, I inquired about the possibility of sharing that memorial message via … you guessed it … Zoom. It was a nice try.
All these thoughts and observations aside, I imagine most of you are joining me in thanking God for the development, production, and administration of Covid-19 vaccine. God be praised!
Perspectives 