In what can only be described as unprecedented, over five hundred doctors representing numerous Jewish communities across North America, signed a letter confirming the need for all children and healthy adults to get immunized according to the CDC schedule. This mass declaration by medical professionals, likely the first of its kind addressing the broad Orthodox Jewish communities nationally, directly and starkly calls out the dangerous falsehoods being spread by so called anti- vaxxers.
The message reads,”We are aware of the dangerous misinformation campaign being spread and reject any unproven unscientific statements that contradict all available current science-based studies on vaccinations.” What makes the statement that much more important is that it comes at a time when Jewish communities are battling not only the potential for a measles outbreak in their own backyards, but also the false perception that Orthodox Jews do not vaccinate. Indeed, statistics issued by the NYS and NYC Health departments confirm that in fact the overwhelming majority of Orthodox Jewish children are vaccinated, and the doctors in this letter are clearly aiming their unequivocal recommendations to the small percentage of people who have refused to inoculate themselves and their children from dreaded illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella and other diseases, at the expense of the larger community.
The letter is signed by recognized and trusted physicians from literally every medical specialty from various states including; New York, New Jersey, California, Florida,Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin as well as Toronto and Montreal, calling on individuals and Jewish communities to work together to “Prevent harmful diseases from spreading.”
Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, MD, a clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a highly respected physician and Rabbi in Long Island, was asked why he felt it was important to be one of the original co-sponsors of this unprecedented effort and why over five hundred of his medical colleagues signed onto such a public declaration. Rabbi Glatt replied, “It is critically important for the Jewish world to know that the greatest poskim from all branches of Orthodox Jewry, as well as the greatest physicians (both number and quality) are in full agreement as to the Pikuach Nefashos imperative regarding measles vaccination.”
Doctors and Askonim are also increasing efforts to inform adults in the wider community to check their own existing immunity levels, because many adults are under the impression that they are properly protected when in reality their childhood immunization may no longer be effective due to a wearing off of the vaccine. Doctors are fearful that this is a potential danger to thousands of unsuspecting individuals.
“With the measles outbreak now hitting communities like Detroit, and Baltimore and still very active in Rockland County and Brooklyn, the need to protect ourselves and each other has become of paramount concern” said Dr. Edward Bennett a popular emergency medicine physician from Queens and an original sponsor of the letter. Dr. Bennett continued, “People think they are in the clear because they were vaccinated as children but unfortunately we are seeing numerous cases of healthy adults born in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s who are now taking their titers test, a blood test to measure immunity, and coming back with negative immunity to one or more of the diseases. This requires an immediate booster shot.
“Bennett concluded, “checking your titers is something everyone can easily do and should be an immediate priority, especially if you are traveling.”
One prominent pediatrician with thousands of patients didn’t want to be named for fear of harassment by extremist anti-vaxxers. He said “It is clear that the tide is now turning and after this public declaration letter, no longer will fringe elements be able to freely dismiss the peer reviewed and universally accepted positions of renowned medical experts in our own community. People should pay attention to the trusted medical professionals they have always turned to in times of medical crisis.”
TLS has learned that the Doctors declaration is being featured in a mass public information campaign with the participation of numerous media outlets and includes the launching of a new website www.DRSFORVAAX.ORG that will provide viewers with an expanded Doctors list, location, credentials, specialties and updated and timely information on immunization.
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE CDC:
Q: I’ve been exposed to someone who has measles. What should I do?
A: Immediately call your doctor and let him or her know that you have been exposed to someone who has measles. Your doctor can
determine if you are immune to measles based on your vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence, and
make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk.
If you are not immune to measles, MMR vaccine or a medicine called immune globulin may help reduce your risk developing measles. Your doctor can help to advise you, and monitor you for signs and symptoms of measles.
If you do not get MMR or immune globulin, you should stay away from settings where there are susceptible people (such as school, hospital, or childcare) until your doctor says it’s okay to return. This will help ensure that you do not spread it to others.
Q: Am I protected against measles?
A: CDC considers you protected from measles if you have written documentation (records) showing at least one of the following:
You received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n)—
school-aged child (grades K-12)
adult who will be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission, including students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare personnel, and international travelers.
You received one dose of measles-containing vaccine, and you are a(n)—
preschool-aged child
adult who will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission.
A laboratory confirmed that you had measles at some point in your life.
A laboratory confirmed that you are immune to measles.
You were born before 1957.
Q: What should I do if I’m unsure whether I’m immune to measles?
A: If you’re unsure whether you’re immune to measles, you should first try to find your vaccination records or documentation of measles immunity. If you do not have written documentation of measles immunity, you should get vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Another option is to have a doctor test your blood to determine whether you’re immune. But this option is likely to cost more and will take two doctor’s visits. There is no harm in getting another dose of MMR vaccine if you may already be immune to measles (or mumps or rubella).
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Let’s get this straight, does all their knowledge on this issue comes from CDC?
CDC is as trust worthy as any other big government agency…
Not sure what the point is here..there is no use debating the anti vaccine group they are not rational,the more Medical professionals that state the obvious [that vaccination saves lives] the more entrenched their position is.
It doesn’t take much to debunk a document that says it’s safe, when a vaccine court exists that has paid out over four billion dollars for vaccine injury.
I would like to understand why these doctors are supporting vaccines for pregnant women when the manufacturers themselves state in their prescribing information that their vaccines are not tested for safety in pregnant women.
not just not tested, but the CDC says it is CONTRAINDICATED for pregnant women, and they should get the mmr after giving birth!!
Go to “Vaccine Safety Commission” website, and click on the button across the top that says “CDC Conflict.”
@keepyourcool, these Dr have years of there own experience with real people, their patients who they care about.
I know nothing will convince the anti Vaxxers. But come on, don’t be so shallow.
By the way I don’t see my pediatrician, from out of town on the list. Great Dr, great guy.
Dave,… there are other doctors who had their own experiences with their patients over the years, and realized that there may be something wrong with the current CDC schedule. They saw a lot of auto-immune disorders and autism in their patients. Therefore they decided to postpone some vaccines, space out others, and not give some. They don’t treat each patient with a “one size fits all” attitude.
Dr. Paul Thomas, Dr. Larry Palevsky, Dr. Bob Sears are some of these pediatricians. It may be worth your while to search for them on line and listen to some of their interviews.
Dr. Paul Thomas has thousands of patients. He did a study on his patients and noticed that those who followed his vaccine schedule, which differs from the CDC schedule, had no autism. Those patients who decided to go with the CDC schedule, have the national rate of autism. How do you explain that?
His book is called “The Vaccine Friendly Plan.”
Dave, can you explain why doctors feel a newborn baby born to a frum mother who does not have Hep B has to get the Hep B vaccine at birth?
Can you explain how doctors can promote vaccines to pregnant women when the manufacturers state that they have not been tested on pregnant women?
Can you explain ACIP’s relatively new protocol that a baby who gets the Dtap and within two days or so has a seizure, or goes into a shock-like state, or cries without stopping for more than three hours, or collapses, is still supposed to get the second and third doses of this vaccine because these are considered “NORMAL” reactions?
Can you explain why new vaccines are not studied against a placebo group as is done for all other medical products, but rather it is compared to another vaccine already on the market or an ingredient in the vaccine?
Can you explain why vaccine manufacturers are afraid of being sued for their product if there are only one in a million incidents of bad side effects?
Can you explain why the govt court has paid out 4 billion dolllars so far to families (each family can only get $250,000) who have come to the vaccine compensation court with strong medical evidence that their child died or got severely damaged from a vaccine?
I look forward to your response!
Some vaccines are permitted and urged during pregnancy. Others like the MMR are called a ‘live vaccine and are not. Everyone knows that, especially pregnant women. Doctors are stating repeatedly and clearly to vaccinate for all illnesses “according to the CDC schedule.” It’s not a tosfos. Do not undermine the very clear direction and information being provided to the public by 500 medical professionals because you have an agenda.
To Fact over agendas: If the manufacturer states that vaccines have not been tested for safety on pregnant women, how can the CDC promote any vaccines for pregnant women? Thank you. (The agenda I have is to protect unborn babies from possible harm.)
We share the very same concerns. Point is the Doctors are very versed in this area far more than anyone else. The health and well being of klal Yisroel is their responsibility. The Doctors I use and know are ehrlich, dedicated,responsible and measured people. They are trained. We are not. They are experienced. We are not.
Doctors advise that:
Flu, dipthiria and pertusses are safe during pregnancy, MMR is not. They state clearly to follow the CDC schedule because it is the recognized expert on these Matters. We see amateurs & arm chair Google searches undermining the medical experts and its alarming. There was no measles for decades. It’s back because people failed to immunize. Its shouldn’t be so hard to follow solid medical advice and in fact 95% of people do. Sadly the 5% are putting the pregnant women, babies and sick people you are so concerned about at tremendous risk because they refuse to follow good medical practice.
What about “herd immunity” ?? If 95% of people are vaccinated, the % do NOT pose a risk.
to paraphrase your sentence: ” the health and well being of my children is MY responsiblity”. No one else’s.
@factsoveragenda the solution is simple please provide reliable sources for the “facts” you are putting forth because it looks more like “fiction” to me. The doctors may be god fearing but they are relying on dr Stanley plotkin who is the worlds foremost expert on vaccines and he conceded under oath that a) he is an atheist and b) doesn’t under stand people that have religious beliefs and c) as a scientist he can’t say vaccines don’t cause autism because the science is not there to support it (people that don’t vaccinate are concerned with so much more than just autism but that is a start). so this is essentially a pyramid scheme where everyone is relying on people like Stanley plotkin and his Talmud Paul offit both of whom make millions of dollars annually from the vaccine industry. And so you can fact check what I’ve said search for Stanley plotkin deposition on YouTube and you can watch the 9 hour deposition yourself.
As for dtap and flu shot for pregnant women the fda testified in court that these vaccines have not been approved for pregnant women and so recommending to pregnant women is off-label usage. Also a recent study on flu vaccines and pregnant women showed a huge increase in the rate of miscarriage in pregnant women who received a flu shot. All of these facts are easy enough to google and find. Still searching for the research to support your “facts”.