The NBA’s Johnathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic is going viral for perhaps one of the best responses to the coronavirus vaccine ever.
Isaac is no stranger to rejecting left-wing narratives often pushed by his teammates.
In July of 2020, for example, Isaac was the lone player or coach who respectfully stood for the national anthem before his team’s game against the Brooklyn Nets while everyone else kneeled in the restarted season.
While many Americans have become familiar with the ignorant political and scientific rants from players like superstar LeBron James, Isaac’s comments are seemingly well-thought and informed.
“I’m not anti-vax,” Isaac said. ‘I’m not anti-medicine. I’m not anti-science.”
“I didn’t come to my current vaccination status by studying black history or watching Donald Trump press conferences,” he continued.
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for every health care worker in Orlando and all across the world that have worked tirelessly to keep us safe. My mom has worked in health care for a very long time.”
“I thank God I live in a society where vaccines are possible and we can protect ourselves and have the means to protect ourselves in the first place.”
Isaac continued, “But with that being said, it is my belief that the vaccine status of every person should be their own choice. Completely up to them without bullying, without being pressured, without being forced into doing so.”
“I’m not ashamed to say that I’m uncomfortable with taking the vaccine at this time. We’re all different. We all come from different places,” he added.
“We’ve all had different experiences and hold dear to different beliefs. And what it is you do with your body when it comes to putting medicine in there should be your choice, free of the ridicule and the opinion of others.”
Watch the viral clip:
Jonathan Isaac 👏🏼👏🏼
— Art TakingBack 🇺🇸 (@ArtValley818_) September 28, 2021
Then came the critical part of his comments:
“I would start with I’ve had COVID in the past and so our understanding of antibodies, of natural immunity has changed a great deal from the onset of the pandemic and is still evolving,” Isaac said.
“I understand that the vaccine would help if you have COVID, you’ll be able to have less symptoms from contracting it. But with me having COVID in the past and having antibodies, with my current age group and physical fitness level, it’s not necessarily a fear of mine.”
“Taking the vaccine, like I said, it would decrease my chances of having a severe reaction, but it does open me up to the albeit rare chance but the possibility of me having an adverse reaction to the vaccine itself. I don’t believe that being unvaccinated means infected or being vaccinated means uninfected. You can still catch COVID with or with not having the vaccine.”
“I would say honestly the craziness of it all in terms of not being able to say that it should be everybody’s fair choice without being demeaned or talked crazy to doesn’t make one comfortable to do what said person is telling them to do.
“I would say I’m hesitant at this time but at the end of the day I don’t feel that it is anyone’s reason to come out and say well this is why or this is not why, it should just be their decision. Loving your neighbor is not just loving those who agree with you or look like you or move in the same way that you do. It’s loving those who don’t.”
“When it comes to other vaccines, I think it’s pretty simple to really taking any modern medicine, I think that that too should be your free choice,” Isaac said.
“If I had to take anything when I was a kid it was the free choice of my parents of whether or not to give it to me. I’m not anti-science, I’m not anti-modern medicine. If I get sick enough I’m going to the doctor.”
Isaac concluded, “If my wife, when we do have kids, I’m not going to deliver the baby myself, I’m going to take her to the hospital. So, it really does come down to just believing that it’s a free right of us as individuals to take it or not.”
