It's Ba-ack: COVID-19 Resurgence Fueled by Vaccine Hesitancy, Misinformation

A United Methodist Insight Column

Just when we thought it was safe to resume in-person gatherings at church, the coronavirus has resurged massively. What’s worse, vaccine hesitancy appears to be playing a major role in the new wave of infections.

The Boston Globe reported July 21 that the Delta coronavirus variant “is now making up an estimated 83 percent of cases nationwide, up from just about half of cases the week of July 3. The continued spread of the variant — and the potential of other variants forming — has been a grave concern for experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who warned on CNN Monday: ‘If we don’t get a significant proportion of these recalcitrant people vaccinated, you’re going to be seeing a smoldering of this outbreak in our country for a considerable period of time.’" For a good explanation of the multiple factors driving vaccine hesitation, see this feature from The Conversation on UM Insight.

Dr. Fauci also took aim at some coronavirus misinformation July 19 in a heated exchange with Sen. Paul Rand (R-Ky.). PRRI reports that Dr. Fauci “defended the National Institutes of Health against claims that it funded a type of research which could have led to the development of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. PRRI data shows that nearly half of Americans (49%) say they trust Dr. Anthony Fauci a lot to provide accurate information on COVID-19. 'You are implying that what we did resulted in the deaths of individuals,' Fauci told Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). ‘I totally resent that, and if anyone is lying here, senator, it is you.’”

Columbia Journalism Review’s The Media Today column by Jon Alsop analyzed the role that traditional and social media are playing in publishing misinformation about COVID-19 vaccinations after a weekend frenzy of media types criticizing President Biden for saying that people who spread such misinformation are “killing people.” Alsop wrote:

“Importantly, though, none of this [debate over misinformation and vaccine hesitancy] diminishes the moral responsibility of individual bad actors—and zero tolerance for their individually bad actions remains the proper standard. Biden’s ‘killing people’ remark captured our attention because it sounded so inflammatory; indeed, it sounds like the worst thing you can accuse someone of doing. But, in the context of a global pandemic, the meaning of such a remark has changed: the whole world is now itself a messy ecosystem of cause and effect, where everyone’s routine decisions, passive or active, can put others at potentially mortal risk.

“This isn’t to drain Biden’s words of their moral weight; it’s to recognize that, as well as being a sharp rebuke, it is literally true to say that anything that contributes to vaccine hesitancy is ‘killing people.’ Biden must have known how his words would land; it seems possible, to me, that he wanted to center Facebook in a weekend media storm, then assert some plausible deniability. But his ‘killing people’ remark was not inherently lacking in nuance—it was entirely compatible with it. And sections of the media bear responsibility for hyping the political attack without teasing those nuances out.”

United Methodists have been urging their neighbors to get vaccinated, and sometimes making immunizations possible. Crystal Caviness of United Methodist Communications wrote in May about the mission opportunity afforded churches by serving as vaccination sites for local hospitals and public health departments. In a similar vein, the July 21 Louisiana Annual Conference newsletter urged:

Churches can maintain a list of local immunization centers to provide to members, as well as to others in the community.
Offer to provide rides to anyone who needs transportation to get a vaccine.
Make a gift to UMCOR COVID-19 Response Fund (Advance #3022612) online here or by sending a check to Global Ministries/UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Please write Advance #3022612 on memo line.

What kind of information about COVID-19 vaccinations is making its way around your congregation? Have you resumed in-person gatherings or does the new surge in infections make you reluctant to gather again?

Useful breakthroughs?

Another note from “The Media Today:" “Amid concerns about rising case rates driven by the more contagious Delta variant, Axios reports that many lawmakers, staffers, and journalists working in Congress have started wearing masks again, and Congressional leaders are considering reintroducing some COVID rules, despite high vaccination rates on the Hill. … Some observers argue that cases among vaccinated people should not be treated as news stories in and of themselves. ‘The Every! Breakthrough! Infection! Is! Big! News! news cycle is getting pretty annoying,’ Nate Silver tweeted yesterday, ‘and is probably going to give vaccinated people a lot of unnecessary anxiety about Delta while also providing kindling to anti-vaxxers.’”

So replenish your stock of masks and sanitizers. We’re not through with this thing yet!

COVID-19 by the numbers

Johns Hopkins University, one of the most reliable sources of statistics on the coronavirus pan demic, reported these numbers as of July 20:

Worldwide: confirmed cases 191,227,582; deaths 4,101,708; vaccine doses administered 3,677,570,995. Remember, lower rates of immunizations outside the United States may be due more to vaccine inaccessbility than vaccine hesitancy, especially in economically poorer countries.

United States: confirmed cases 34,157,936; deaths 609,437.

Memorial quilt remembers COVID-19 victims

Over the past 10 years or so, I’ve developed a great fondness for the craft of quilting. Thus, I was inspired to read an article on the Waging Nonviolence website about a California teen-ager who has started a quilt project to remember people who’ve died from COVID-19.

Madeleine Fugate, 14, began the COVID Memorial Quilt as a school project, inspired by her mother Katherine, who contributed to the AIDS memorial quilt. The article by Loretta Graceffo quotes Madeleine:

“’It’s important for me to document people who have lost their lives because they were more than just a number. They need to be remembered as someone who had memories, friends and family — as someone who loved things.”

What is your church doing to remember those in your community who’ve died from COVID-19? Email your stories to UM Insight.

Oregon-Idaho makes mission trip ‘virtually possible’

Let’s hear it for the Oregon-Idaho Conference Volunteers in Mission! Folks there haven’t let the coronavirus pandemic stop their longtime relationship with Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. Here’s the news from a special issue of the UM Connector:

“The Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Volunteers in Mission team is hosting a virtual mission trip to the Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya on Aug. 16, 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. PDT (6 to 7:30 p.m. in Kenya).

“For years the Oregon-Idaho Conference has had a relationship with Maua Methodist Hospital, supporting many UMVIM trips to Kenya to help with various projects at the hospital. The pandemic has made traditional mission trips nearly impossible, but it’s ‘virtually possible’ to learn about the services offered, the AIDS Orphan Home project, kitchen gardens, and other community outreach projects.”

Has your church or annual conference held a similar “virtual mission trip?” Email your news to United Methodist Insight.

Anti-racism DIY rally

Members of First UMC in Oak Park, Ill., hold up anti-racism signs during the congregation's "do-it-yourself" rally against racism July 18, 2021. The denomination is still struggling to dismantle racism in the church and society. (Photo Courtesy Northern Illinois Conference newsletter)

Northern Illinois churches rally against racism

Northern Illinois Conference’s “do-it-yourself” anti-racism rally got off to an encouraging start July 18 with several congregations conducting their own local events. The conference newsletter reported:

“First UMC in Oak Park reported that 30 people rallied after Sunday's worship service with signs and noisemakers. In addition to the purchased signs reading, “United Methodists Stand Against Racism,” they displayed homemade signs reading, ‘HONK for Racial Justice,’ ‘Praying for Racial Justice’ and ‘LOVE your neighbor as yourself; ALL your neighbors.’

“First UMC in Mendota also rallied outside in front of the church after worship and raised nearly $400 for the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race. Friendship UMC in Bolingbrook reported quite a few cars blew horns during their rally and someone suggested the church do this every second Sunday after church.”

Media Mentions as of July 21, 2021

With more than a million children orphaned by COVID, faith-based groups look to mobilize support – Religion News Service

'God's healing touch' — 200 Missouri Christian pastors ask everyone to vaccinate against COVID – Springfield News-Leader

100 Louisiana clergy call anti-transgender bill 'cynical and frivolous' – Louisiana Illuminator

Why Congregations Aren’t Waiting to Leave the United Methodist Church – Christianity Today

Defend religious liberty for all despite our differences – Real Clear Religion

Proud Boys leader pleads guilty for burning church's Black Lives Matter banner – Religion News Service

Will U.S. departure from Afghanistan create a humanitarian and religious freedom crisis? – Baptist News Global

While we’re talking about guns in America, let’s talk about our fear-based theology that also drives gun sales – Baptist News Global

American support for same-sex marriage continues to increase, even as religious conservatives battle LGBTQ community on other fronts – Baptist News Global

These churches are done with buildings. Here's why – Deseret News

Asheville congregation will sell property, invest in local needs – Mountain Xpress