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COVID-19 IMMUNITY

COVID-19 has changed our world like nothing any of us have ever seen. To be accurate, SARS CoV-2 is the virus and COVID-19 is the infection caused by the virus. There are so many unknowns, especially when we see the so-called government experts all over the map. They certainly do not instill confidence. It's prudent we take charge of our lives and do what is best for us. Let's take a moment and look at our personal immunity.

The term “immunity” is in the news daily. What exactly is immunity? Is a vaccine the only way our body can have immunity from a foreign invader to our body? What can we do, if anything, to help (or complicate) our immunity? Let’s spend a few minutes to examine these questions.

The dictionary defines immunity as; the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells. But what do we, or what can we do to accomplish this immunity? Well, it’s far more complex than taking a pill or receiving a shot.

David speaks in Psalms 139 of the presence of God in our lives and our world. In verses 13 and 14 he says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” It is understandable that those who believe we are the result of comes cosmic accident fear what could happen in another “accident”.

In 2014, researchers from Washington University performed a study where they discovered the average person carries five different viruses within their bodies while displaying no symptoms. Some only carried one while others had 10-15 viruses! This is in addition to various bacteria and yeast. From the study, “This study is the first to use high-throughput DNA sequencing to describe the diversity of eukaryotic DNA viruses in a large cohort of individuals who were sampled at multiple body sites. This analysis demonstrates that there is a ‘normal viral flora’ in generally healthy, asymptomatic individuals.” The hypothesis is that the viruses may boost the immune system’s response to harmful pathogens.

So, with this in mind, think of all those who “tested positive” for the CCP virus. Farmers know that their livestock is never free from parasites, the animals’ immune system keeps these various “worms” at bay. However, in times of stress, the immune system finds itself dealing with more than normal and can become overloaded. Loading animals in a trailer and moving them to another location can set this off, then some of them might appear lethargic or losing weight. The parasites have taken advantage of the situation and multiplied rapidly, becoming too much for the animal to handle. At that point intervention is required before the situation becomes life-threatening.

We humans are no different. We carry a variety of pathogens and viruses daily. Our respiratory system is designed to help expel foreign invaders. What do you suppose a mask might do to this natural process? Humans typically are not loaded into a trailer to be relocated, our stress comes from other sources, physical and emotional. It would be trivial to point out everything that could be a stressful event, but you are well aware what stresses you personally. Have you ever become worn down due to a series of long hard days, not enough sleep at night, and then you became sick? The herpes virus is a perfect example, you become tired and worn out and suddenly you have a cold sore on your lip. That virus lives in you and takes advantage when your immunity is lower. Perhaps now you understand how this works. It serves us well to get plenty of rest, eat properly, and do the best we can to stay healthy.

We’ve all heard of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the premier medical facilities in the world. From their website, “We recently shared research that provides insight into how the immune system protects the body after a confirmed COVID-19 infection. The study followed Cleveland Clinic caregivers over five months as the vaccination process was beginning. The data showed that the vaccine was extremely effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. In addition, we found that none of the previously infected employees who remained unvaccinated were re-infected over the duration of the study.” So previous infection would seem to offer better immune response than the vaccine.

We still are learning what the long-term effects are of having the virus, the vaccine, and previous infections other than COVID-19. Now there’s talk of vaccine boosters. We know the flu shot only has a window of 90-120 days, so this in a way is not surprising. Although the spike protein in the mRNA shot is new and we really don’t know if there’s an efficacy window of time or what that length of time is. There are indications this protein may attack vital parts of our immune system, do some research on your own. We also know many people show resistance to a COVID-19 infection through previous exposure to the SARS CoV-1 virus which is about 80% the same as SARS CoV-2.

Staying healthy and keeping our immune system strong is easier for some than it is for others. Unfortunately, we were not created equal in that sense. Some of us may have a genetic tendency for diabetes, heart issues, bad joints…the list is endless! Then there are environmental and job-related factors that can throw a wrench into our efforts to stay healthy and be stress free. We were never promised life would be easy, but as a society we have become lazy in many ways. We want instant gratification; we want our health to come in a pill or a shot. There are no shortcuts to good health just as the get rich quick schemes never work.

We have begun to see promotions for the vaccine saying we eradicated Smallpox and Polio with a vaccine so everyone must become vaccinated to get rid of COVID. This statement like so many others related to this is simply false. Smallpox and Polio, along with some other viruses, only find a home in the human body. Once everyone has either had the virus or the vaccine, there was no place for the virus to live. However, many viruses are able to use animals as a “reservoir” to live. We know there are viruses that infect animals and not humans and vice versa. These viruses (common cold, flu, rhinovirus, RSV, etc) will be impossible to eradicate, including the family of Coronaviruses of which SARS COV-2 is one.

So, what are we to do? We realize we were misled, or even lied to, about the vaccines. People still get the virus, still get sick and still die. Each of us has to weigh the risks of getting any vaccine or not. We simply must fully inform ourselves and make the choice. Since the vaccine is not a “silver bullet” on which we can depend, we must take matters into our own hands. Even if you decided to get this or other vaccines, doing your part to keep your immune system strong will serve you well.

Be as active as you are able. For some this is a gym membership, for others it is walking or jogging and for many it is simply an active life. Gardening, yard work, hunting, fishing or other sports are good, not only for your physical health, but your mental health as well. Eat moderately and regularly. Get plenty of rest and do what you can to keep your stress levels low. I know that is a chore for many, the daily news is stressful! The vast majority of those who have serious illness from this virus have low D3 levels. Vitamin C and Zinc are vital to help support your body’s ability to fight illnesses. Quercetin seems to help as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

If you do become sick with this virus, take it seriously. Seek out a doctor ahead of time who will work with you on early treatment. Find other articles here about available treatments. Lastly, be proactive in your health and medical care, we are not sheep who must wait for a shepherd to rescue us from the wolf.