Influental ultra-Orthodox leaders spoke out in support of the coronavirus children's vaccination on Tuesday, calling on followers to get vaccinated and inoculate their children.
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Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky instructed ultra-Orthodox schools to get the students inoculated. In a message published in the Haredi newspaper Yated Ne'eman, he said, "Make sure to get the vaccines to schools, and they should be used to get immunized."
Rabbi Chaim Isaac Landau of Bnei Brak called for the vaccination of "the entire public – children, adults and pregnant women."
"Everyone must be vaccinated to protect their lives. A person must not risk himself. This is a personal duty, and certainly a public duty. As soon as possible and at any age eligible, vaccination is a must."
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a significant increase in the number of children's vaccination, partly due to the spread of the recently identified Omicron variant.
Nevertheless, the inoculation rates in the ultra-Orthodox community remain low. According to the latest data, the children's immunization rates in the Haredi sector are seven times lower than in the general population.
However, the Meuhedet health fund reported a 12.5% increase in ultra-Orthodox children's vaccination on Monday. Instructions by Haredi leaders are expected to drive up the inoculation rate further.
In recent weeks, Kanievsky has been criticized by vaccine opponents for his unequivocal support for doses. Earlier in November, the ultra-Orthodox leader met with senior health officials to discuss vaccine safety and ways to encourage vaccination among ultra-Orthodox children.
Experts – Coronavirus Commissioner Salman Zarka, expert epidemiologist Professor Ran Balicer, and Kanievsky's personal physician, Dr. Meshulam Hart – presented Kanievsky with the latest data on children's vaccines. Having carefully studied the information, the sage ruled that children ages of five-11 should be vaccinated.
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