Anglican bishop urges vaccination to beat ‘dire Delta wave’

Anglican Bishop Right Reverend Michael Maxwell on Monday voiced concern about the “dire” situation of the coronavirus outbreak being fuelled by the Delta variant, urging Barbadians to get vaccinated where possible and adhere to the protocols.

In his pastoral message on the Feast of St Luke, Rt Revd Maxwell said the highly infectious strain has led to widespread community transmission.

“We need to act now, more than ever to halt this spread and be resolute in the preservation of our lives and about mental and social well-being,” he said.

He expressed dismay that global reports were now showing the island as having the highest rate of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases per million per day.

Bishop Maxwell who also lamented the rapid rise in death urged Barbadians to treat the virus more seriously.

“We began this year with just seven deaths due to COVID-19.  However, those numbers have risen steadily and so far we have already lost just over 100 lives over these last few months.  This my friends is indicative that we as citizens have been letting down our guard and not doing our utmost to secure our lives and that of others.  We have not been exercising due care and attention even at a time when our God has provided us with the wisdom to recognise the seriousness of the situation and the destructive nature of COVID-19.”

He stressed that Barbadians who are medically able should get vaccinated and follow other health practices including maintaining a well-balanced diet, daily exercise, the use of vitamins and mineral supplements and testing to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“Today we have available to us a number of vaccines that have proven to score not a 100 per cent but a high percentage of success in boosting and enabling our immune system to fight off this deadly virus should we become infected and also to limit our ability to spread it onto others.

“I, therefore, exhort you to take one of these vaccines if you are medically able  to do so and if you are not I urge you to double your efforts in building up your immunity, whether you are vaccinated or not to closely followed the required protocols to avoid being infected.”

He added: “God has given these resources and measures to safeguard ourselves and to play our part in ensuring that our situation in no way becomes worst but rather improve. He truly desires our freedom from this exile into which COVID 19 has placed us. Use the God-given means he has made available to us for our deliverance as we continue to pray daily to him and to trust for the healing of our nation and the world.”

The Bishop reminded Christians that they are called to be good stewards and that is not limited to being faithful in time, talents and treasures to the church, but to work with God to preserve health and wellness for all.

“Let us, therefore, take fresh guard and be guided by God in the exercise of sound stewardship and let us also give him thanks and praise today for all those who like St Luke has been on the frontlines called and equipped for the ministry of healing as they continue to sacrificially give of themselves for the sake of others.” (SD)