[COMMUNICATED]
Is it Mutar to take the Covid Vaccine? Join the debate in this week’s segment of the Headlines show.
The Modern Halacha discussion is very complex. Only the greatest minds of our time can address the thorny halachic issues that arise.
R’ Dovid Lichtenstein has developed an incredible opportunity for Jews all over today, in hosting his Halacha Headlines weekly podcast.
Each week, R’ Dovid invites various gedolim and experts in the topic of discussion, to work through the halachic nuances of each issue. These Question and Answer style shiurim can be accessed on his easily navigated website or at 732.806.8700. Podcasts can be downloaded and listened to anytime, anywhere.
This week’s discussion addresses the COVID vaccine and whether it is mutar to take it from a halachic and hashkafic perspective.
Previous episodes cover topics such as Moshiach, “Heter” Kiruv, Yerushas, Marijuana and Ribbis.
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what would be the Issur?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist said that Covid vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant women and lactating mothers, even though they admit the vaccine has not been tested for safety in these populations. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2020/12/vaccinating-pregnant-and-lactating-patients-against-covid-19
In the United Kingdom, women are advised not to get the vaccine if they are pregnant or if they are planning to become pregnant within three months of the first dose. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020
Women in the Moderna trials were told not to become pregnant from the time of first dose till three months after second dose, and men were told not to father children for the same time-frame.
Women in the Pfizer trials were told not to become pregnant from the time of first dose till 28 days after second dose, and men were told not to father children for the same time-frame.
At the recent FDA’s VRBPAC meeting, Dr. Fink (deputy director of the FDA’s division of vaccines) stated that although there is no data available to address any risks to pregnant women or the fetus from the vaccine, there are also “no data that would warrant a contraindication.”
The FDA has listed twenty “possible adverse event outcomes” from the vaccine, including autoimmune disorders, encephalitis, anaphylaxis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, convulsions/seizures, stroke, heart attacks and death. See page 16: https://www.fda.gov/media/143557/download?fbclid=IwAR2BqgFLdn5lvtzIzLhwz9bjsepP4Ki3HG8fjMim1jaEH5AzhsXK9dF3FRQ
Pfizer just released their data on their clinical trials (12/8/20).
https://www.fda.gov/media/144245/download?fbclid=IwAR3Zwql1s1NPkawLbXtfya0yBpTVRbjJLT67RMXy8Sr5IJDMw9QPlikrhV4
Data is inadequate to assess the vaccine’s effect against asymptomatic infection, virus shedding or transmission of virus from those infected despite vaccination. The effectiveness of the vaccine against mortality is unknown. Risk of vaccine-enhanced disease over time is unknown. It is not yet possible to assess sustained vaccine efficacy over a period longer than 2 months or evaluate vaccine efficacy outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or those under age 16. Known risks and other unknown risks are further discussed. (pp. 46-49 of document)
Pfizer will ask clinical trial participants who got the placebo if they want to get the covid vaccine, after six months of getting their second placebo dose. This will not allow for any long-term health comparisons between placebo and vaccine trial participants. (p. 44, section 6 of document)
There were four cases of Bell’s palsy in the vaccine group compared with no cases in the placebo group. (p. 6 of document) ( FDA recommends watching out for Bell’s palsy in vaccine recipients. )
The Pfizer vaccine contains lipids including 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N (p. 11, section 4.1 of document).
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has the potential to cause life-threatening reactions in some individuals.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27196817/
https://aacijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13223-016-0172-7
Is there really an age-gap crisis with shidduchim in our circles?