A 44 percent jump in a week in the immunization of children in the ultra-Orthodox sector, following the call of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, published in "Israel Today", for educators to call parents and actively push for the vaccination of children.
In all sectors in the past week, in the shadow of the fifth wave of the corona, there has been a significant increase in immunization.
In the Arab sector there was an increase of 21 percent and in the general sector there was an increase of 18 percent.
But in the ultra-Orthodox sector, the increase is much more massive in terms of percentages - and in exact numbers: from slightly more than 10,000 vaccinated in one dose between the ages of 5 and 11 on January 2 to 14.7 thousand vaccinated in the first dose this morning (Sunday).
Last week, Israel Today reported that Rabbi Kanievsky decided to raise the bar regarding the requirement for ultra-Orthodox children to be vaccinated against corona, and instructs educators in educational institutions to actively call parents to persuade them to vaccinate their children.
The majority of institutional managers came up with the question of how to encourage morbidity and deal with low morbidity rates.
The ultra-Orthodox sector very much does not want to close the educational institutions, which they see as a critical part of the children's education and the continuation of normal activity in the sector - much more than stores for example.
Rabbi Kanievsky's words were clear and sharp: not only should immunization be encouraged, active action should be taken and parents should be approached to bring about as many vaccinated as possible.
"It is a great right for parents to store their children and not to be afraid of anything bad."
Rabbi Kanievsky, Photo: Arik Sultan
Now, due to the widespread contagion of the omicron strain, most ultra-Orthodox cities, with the exception of Emanuel, are defined as red cities. At the same time, at least for now they are not leading the table. This can change because the overcrowded conditions in which the ultra-Orthodox live have led to greater infection in the past, which further increases the urgency to get vaccinated.
Manny Haddad of the Corona Information Center and the Haredi Information Office says that a series of moves led to the long-awaited move: "The call of the great men of Israel, Rabbi Kanievsky, Rabbi Edelstein and the Rebbe of Belza is dramatic, Beyond that, the Corona Fighting Information Headquarters led a series of doctors to blitz interviews in the ultra-Orthodox media last week, culminating in a live broadcast with Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price providing answers to hesitant parents. "The children of the ultra-Orthodox sector have also bypassed the Arab population, and in the coming week, we will reduce the gap with the general population. We will not rest until all the eligible children are vaccinated."
Israel Cohen, a radio commentator for Kol Barama, explains that the fact that Rabbi Kanievsky ordered the vaccination of children is what clearly caused the spoon to tilt.
"Thank God the efforts are bearing fruit. I believe that in the coming days, after the addition of other great rabbis, we will see an even more significant increase. In the war against the Pike News, it becomes clear that the ultra-Orthodox are giving a fight and believing and obeying the rabbis."
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us