Ultra-Orthodox rabbinic leadership: 12-year-olds must get vaccinated

The two rabbis announced their support for the step in a letter published in the Yated Neeman ultra-Orthodox daily newspaper on Tuesday by prominent Bnei Brak physician Dr. Meshulam Hart.

Hart, who is Kanievsky’s personal doctor, noted the recent rise in COVID-19 infections particularly among unvaccinated children and youths, a phenomenon which has arisen after the entry of the Delta variant into the country, and said that this is a life-endangering and threatened once again to shut down educational institutions. 

“We brought all the medical opinions to Rabbi Kanievsky and Rabbi Edelstein,” wrote Hart. "Since there is a danger and concern for loss of life, including among the elderly, and there is also a real threat of Torah study being canceled and educational institutions and yeshivas being closed, all pupils, boys and girls, 12 years old and over who do not know for sure that they were [previously] infected with corona should get vaccinated in accordance with the instructions of doctors."

The letter stated that the medical opinions have been presented to the two rabbis, who gave instructions to publish it in the newspaper.

COVID-19 infection rates among the ultra-Orthodox community have been extremely high, particularly among youth.

A lack of adherence to government health regulations, together with crowded living conditions, large families and a heavy emphasis in ultra-Orthodox society on communal gatherings, meant that the virus ran rampant within the sector. 

Kanievsky and Edelstein, together with other ultra-Orthodox rabbis, have strongly backed vaccination drives.