Haredi Communities and Vaccine Hesitancy
Israeli epidemiologists and other public health experts are expressing concern over the refusal of some ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) and even some secular women to vaccinate their toddlers or get vaccinated during pregnancy against potentially deadly pediatric diseases.
Two Jerusalem infants have recently died from whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis), a disease that should have been eradicated but has resurfaced in the last two years. A seven-week-old girl was admitted to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) with severe brain seizures caused by meningitis because her Haredi mother refused to be vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy.
Impact on Infants
Infants can develop complications such as mini-strokes, pneumonia, slowed or stopped breathing, dehydration, weight loss due to feeding difficulties, seizures, and even brain damage. These pediatric diseases shouldn’t exist anymore, reminiscent of the 1860s when diseases like scarlet fever were common.
“The newborn on our ward will probably survive but she is at high risk of serious damage for the rest of her life,” said Prof. Yechiel Schlesinger, director of the SZMC’s Wilf Children’s Hospital and an expert in infectious diseases.
Vaccines and Public Perception
Half a century ago, the pertussis vaccine caused some complications, but a better, a-cellular vaccine has since replaced it. However, the vaccine still has a bad reputation among some Haredi groups who have an ideological suspicion against vaccines, including those for COVID-19.
Pregnant women in the community often ignore professional advice to get vaccinated. Vaccine refusal exists among various Haredi communities in the US but is less significant there due to greater exposure to medical facts.
Comparative Compliance
Arab Israelis, including large Bedouin families, are more compliant about vaccinations. They usually do not believe in conspiracy theories about pharmaceutical companies and follow their doctors’ advice.
A recent report by the European Union stated that populations from lower socio-economic backgrounds or cultural or religious minorities usually achieve lower vaccine uptake compared to the general population. However, the Arab minority in Israel is an exception, achieving higher vaccine coverage than the general Jewish population.
Public Health and Government Funding
The general level of public health in Israel is relatively high due to devoted care by the four public health funds, but it is declining partly due to reduced public funding for disease prevention.
Dr. Ze’ev Feldman, chairman of the State Doctors Organization in the Israel Medical Association, emphasized the need for additional budget for the healthcare system, especially prevention services.
Addressing Vaccine Refusal
Prof. Nadav Davidowitch, a leading epidemiologist, expressed concern about the vaccine-refusal phenomenon, noting that vaccination rates in the Haredi community are lower than in the general population. Public health activities need to be boosted, but they are currently weakened.
Some Haredi rabbis support vaccinations, while others spread conspiracy theories. The Health Ministry should actively try to persuade rabbis to encourage vaccination.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a greater lack of faith in pediatric vaccinations among the Haredi community. Real-time data is needed to track vaccination compliance, and more ultra-Orthodox women in public health professions should be utilized to spread the word on the subject.
For more information, visit the full article on The Jerusalem Post.
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