“IT’S DISGUSTING”: May One Use Protektzia to Get the Covid Vaccine?

The race to get vaccinated and panic from the coronavirus has raised many questions for poskim, as vaccines have arrived in Israel.

Matzav.com has learned that an interesting question was asked this week of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah and rov of the Ramat Elchonon neighborhood in Bnei Brak, who is a noted halachic expert in the field of medicine.

Rav Zilberstein was asked a question by a Jew who is not in a “risk group” but really wants to get vaccinated. The man is concerned that in the coming month, there will be shortage of vaccines.

This man can actually get a vaccine for himself, but he is faced with the dilemma of whether he is allowed to receive a vaccine by using “protektzia,” or clout. On the one hand, he wants to protect himself. On the other hand, some people may need it more because they are in high-risk groups.

To this, Rav Zilberstein replied, “If the protektzia is honest, there is no problem. But if it’s not honest, it’s disgusting. ”

{Matzav.com Israel}