LAKEWOOD, NJ:
The Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) has released a statement that the number of confirmed cases of measles in Lakewood has gone up.
There are now 14 confirmed cases of measles and an additional 10 under investigation.
The OCHD says the number would be much higher were it not for the immunity provided by those who have received the MMR vaccine. The Ocean County Health Department has assisted with vaccination efforts through the deployment of 7 of its public health clinical nurses, in addition to responding with 4 health educators and numerous administrative personnel to assist in the measles response. The Ocean County Health Department has also issued a number of Health Officer Orders of Isolation and Health Officer Orders of Quarantine in an attempt to protect Public Health in the community.
Approximately 90% of susceptible people will get measles if exposed to someone with the disease. Only those who have been vaccinated or who have been sickened with measles already are not susceptible. The measles virus also lingers in the air for up to 2 hours after the person with measles has left a room or building. Added to these frightening statistics is the data which suggests 30% of measles cases result in complications including pneumonia, corneal ulceration, brain scarring and even death with infants and pregnant women being particularly susceptible to complications.
ROCKLAND COUNTY (MONSEY, NEW SQUARE, SPRING VALLEY):
The Rockland County Health Department says that there are 74 confirmed cases.
Along with Refuah Health Center in Spring Valley and private physicians, health-care providers have administered more than 6,100 MMR vaccines since the start of the outbreak.
Rockland Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert has also ordered that non-immunized children stay home from schools in New Square and from schools that have less than an 80 percent vaccination rate. This affects 34 private schools in the county. Health officials are doing daily checks of the schools to ensure compliance.
Students will be allowed to return 21 days after the last case of measles is documented.
BROOKLYN, NY (BORO PARK, WILLIAMSBURG):
In Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community, health officials put the outbreak total at 24 since the first case in October.
CHICAGO:
Important Measles Immunization update from the Vaad Hachinuch
In line with the position of the Vaad Hachinuch that every child should be fully vaccinated, the school has been working diligently with families to convince them to get on an accepted vaccination schedule. Many of these families have already agreed to follow the school mandate. Only a small number of families have still chosen to use a religious exemption and not vaccinate their children.
Over the last 24 hours it has become evident that the measles outbreak is imminent in our city with potential cases already reported. In light of this information, the Vaad Hachinuch has decided to put clause #2 of its original statement into effect as of this coming Sunday November 18th.
We have therefore informed all parents of children that are not immunized for measles that they may not bring their children to school until further notice. The Vaad Hachinuch, in consultation with medical professionals, will decide if and when these children will be allowed back to school.
We thank our parent body for their trust, patience and understanding during these trying times.
We are mispallel for continued Siyata Dishmaya that our entire faculty, student body and city remain gezunt.
With wishes for a restful Shabbos,
The Vaad Hachinuch and Hanhala of JDBY-YTT
JDBY-YTT
6110 N California Avenue
Chicago IL 60659
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
PASSAIC, NJ:
There are two suspected cases in Passaic. A local Pediatrician hung the following sign outside his office:
DETROIT:
Sources tell YWN that there is one confirmed case as of this time. The attached image is a sign hanging at a doctors office in Detroit:
LETTERS FROM RABBONIM GROW:
RAMAT BEIT SHEMESH RABBONIM
CHICAGO RABBONIM
The following letter was released on Tuesday, and signed by HaRav Shmuel Fuerst, the Dayan of Agudath Yisroel of Illinois, and HaRav Yona Reiss, Ava Beth Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.
YWN has previously published an audio recording of HaRav Fuerst of Chicago regarding the vaccinations. Rav Fuerst joined the growing list of Poskim releasing Piskei Halacha directed towards the anti-vaxxers, following the measles outbreak which has spread across many Chareidi communities.
Rav Fuerst says he did alot of research into the issue (of vaccinations), and released the following message (audio below, transcribed by YWN):
“Every child must have vaccination shots. And a school should not take in any kids that were not vaccinated because of the Issur of ‘Lo Saamod Al Dam Reacha’ – because another child can catch this sickness. It can be measles, mumps, polio or any of these types of illnesses which are almost completely unheard of, and now we are hearing of them because people are not getting vaccinations.
“If you have a playgroup, you must make sure that all the children are vaccinated. If there is a child who is not vaccinated, you (the playgroup owner) must notify all the other parents, because you are putting them all in jeopardy”.
Rav Fuerst says this applies to children simply going to play at another child’s home. If they are unvaccinated, the other family must be notified.
ISRAELI POSKIM – WHOEVER DOESN’T VACCINATE IS A MURDERER
“Whoever isn’t vaccinated is a murderer” – so reads a Kol Koreh signed by leading Gedolim and Poskim in Eretz Yisroel. The letter was issued in an attempt to curb the rampant spread of the Measles currently spreading through Chareidi communities in Israel, as well as in other communities in Israel and around the world.
The Gedolim who signed the Kol Koreh include: Hagaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Hagaon HaRav Shimon Ba’adani, Hagaon HaRav Sriel Rosenberg, Hagaon HaRav Moshe Shaul Klein and Hagaon HaRav Menachem Mendel Lubin.
YWN reported about a letter released by Hagaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, who stated specifically it is the responsibility of every father to make certain his children are vaccinated, bringing quotes from Shulchan Aruch citing the matter of שפיחת דמים, causing loss of life.
HARAV UREN REICH
An audio recording of Hagaon HaRav Uren Reich, the Rosh Yeshiva of Woodlake, is currently viral on social media. The shiur was recorded THREE YEARS AGO, but the words are timely. YWN has confirmed that Rav Reich’s opinion on the matter is the same, and even stronger now than before against the anti-vaxxers.
STATEMENT FROM THE OU AND RCA:
Orthodox Jewish parents, like responsible parents across the United States, overwhelmingly vaccinate their children against measles, mumps, rubella, polio and the other childhood diseases for which inoculations are now almost miraculously commonplace. As in many communities, a small minority of parents chooses not to do so. The ongoing measles outbreak demonstrates how this could bear very serious consequences, not only for their own children but others’ too, especially those medically unable to be vaccinated. The Orthodox Union (OU) and the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) strongly urge all parents to vaccinate their healthy children on the timetable recommended by their pediatrician.
Judaism places the highest value on preserving human life. It is well known that those facing even a potential life or death situation are instructed to set aside the Sabbath and other key tenets of halachic (Jewish law) observance until the emergency has passed. Prayers for good health and for the complete and perfect healing of the ill are an ages-old aspect of Jewish tradition. But prayers must go hand-in-hand with availing oneself of medical science, including vaccination.
There are halachic obligations to care for one’s own health as well as to take measures to prevent harm and illness to others, and Jewish law defers to the consensus of medical experts in determining and prescribing appropriate medical responses to illness and prevention. Therefore, the consensus of major poskim (halachic decisors) supports the vaccination of children to protect them from disease, to eradicate illness from the larger community through so-called herd immunity, and thus to protect others who may be vulnerable.
While the health of children is an important consideration, everyone should consult with his or her religious, medical and legal advisors in determining what actions to take. Nothing in this statement should be construed to add to or detract from rights or obligations created by New York or other state and federal statutes and regulations.
LAKEWOOD’S BMG URGES EVERYONE TO VACCINATE AFTER CONTAGIOUS PERSON WAS INSIDE:
Measles is highly contagious, so anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting the disease.
People who are unvaccinated risk getting infected with measles and spreading it to others, and they may spread measles to people who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions.
Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if:
• they were born before 1957
• have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine
• have had measles confirmed by a health care provider
• or have a lab test confirming immunity
Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose, and they could appear 10 to 12 days after exposure.
The virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
To prevent the spread of illness, health officials are advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department before going for care.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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18 Responses
What do parents do if their child had only one dose, so far?
Measles is rampart in Europe and the Ukraine.
It is unmitigated child abuse to let a child suffer like this!
From above: The total number of cases in Frum America is around 100. IMHO, this number woefully inaccurate!
I believe there are hundreds of cases, but there is an effort from the Unvaxxers to hide it from e/o.
Yaapchik, are you saying that my parents wrre child abusers for letting me get measles? Hello? Your ignorance of the disease and blatent acceptance of the fear mongering going on speaks volumes of your intellugence and rationality. And of how effective mainstream medicine has brainwahed all of you (and your doctors, who were told in medical school that vaccines are safe and effective and to give them on this schedule.) No doctor or layperson who has researched on their own is pro vaccines. And now rabbanim are being pulled into this and am yisroel is being split with a mild, normal illness, only dangerous to malnourished and immunocompromised. Hashem gave us an immune system to fight these diseases. All the vaccines do is destroy our innate ability to fight all diseases, not just measles, which is evidenced by all the chronic illness so rampant in our lityle ones today. THINK. Educate yourself, and at the end of the day, if you still feel you believe in vaccinations (rather than in Hashem???), at least respect others who chose not to follow that path….
if you child only had one dose call your DR the are recommending giving second dose early
the number of cases is confirmed cases you are right there are probably more
the antivaxxers probably dont go to DRs so it doesnt get reported
only dangerous to malnourished and immunocompromised.
Yomama, only dangerous to malnourished and immunocompromised?
Even if true, you don’t mind if they die?
yomama, “No doctor or layperson who has researched on their own is pro vaccines”. You can’t really believe this? It’s just the American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, National Academy of Sciences, and World Health Organization that encourage vaccination and deem them safe.
“Hashem gave us an immune system to fight these diseases. ” Shame He chose to ignore the estimated 200 million people world wide who died from measles between 1855 and 2005 and the thousands of kids that went deaf from mumps. And don’t forget in the outbreak of 1965 the 20,000 children were born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome, 11,000 were deaf, 3,500 blind, and 1,800 mentally retarded. There were 2,100 neonatal deaths. And don’t get me started on the 100-150 kids that died each year from chicken pox, who’s immune system couldn’t fight. Shame Hashem didn’t give them an immune system like you have.
Hashem gave us sechel to use, not to be fools.
yomama, “all the chronic illness so rampant in our lityle [sic] ones today”. As if chronic illness didn’t exist before hand? Besides, the connection between chronic illness and vaccines as no basis in science, you just made it up to prove your point.
The chronic illnesses that we have today comes from too much food that is unhealthy and lack of exercise, not vaccines. If you’re worries about chronic illness, go to your shul and tell them to make a healthy kiddush and cut the liquor. Stop serving huge meals on Shabbos, and cut out pizza. Start running every day and get off the computer.
yomama, We read your thoughts and opinions. Now, it’s time to read about your credentials. Please provide YWN where you earned your medical, medical engineering, or medical science graduate education, what dissertations you have published, where you completed medical residencies and/or internships, I also want to know why you believe that performing one’s histadlus in this life is antithesis to belief in God. Should I not wear a seatbelt when I drive? Should I eat raw poultry? Should I go swimming in a pool when it’s 10 degrees F outside? Should I quit my job and hope my bank account has funds for the bills due at the end of the month? I’m asking with all sincerity and no sarcasm. At what point in life would my actions be conflicting with belief in Hashem.
Is it not possible to believe in Hashem AND wear a seatbelt, fully cook raw chicken and meats, not swim in freezing temperatures in hopes that Hashem will protect me from pneumonia, learn and have a job for parnasa? Belief in God and performing the responsibilities in life don’t merge together? Why can’t I get the vaccine and believe in God (while I put on Talis and Teffilin in shul every morning)? I’m respectfully curious now. Please teach me.
You say “No doctor or layperson who has researched on their own is pro vaccines”. Can you please provide a source? I disagree with you, AND I will provide a source. Dr. Hylton Lightman MD (licensed and certified physician in Far Rockaway, with decades of experience) has performed his own unbiased research and strongly believes in vaccinations. He has said so on YWN many times before. With all seriousness, I can provide his active NPI and TIN from online if you request. I am not a doctor, but I am a “layperson” (as you call it). I’ve done my own research in my university library and have concluded that I will certainly benefit by vaccinations. So, I’m a bit confused by what you meant in your statement? I will await your sources and references. No more opinions or ‘thoughts’, please.
@ yomama
Trying to talk to these people is a lost cause. All they tell you is that the all the doctors say…….. They don’t dare think that maybe the doctors and pharmaceutical companies have their own agenda to push
Sammyb, what about you, do you have your own agenda to push? Why or why not?
How about the cleaning mexican lady ?
sammyb, I suppose the anti-vaxxers don’t have a hidden agenda after making verbal threats against Lakewood NJ Kosher restaurant “Snaps” for their policy of not serving unvaccinated patrons? “A popular restaurant in Lakewood says it has hired armed security guards after it received anti-Semitic comments after it tweeted that it would not serve unvaccinated patrons during the measles outbreak, according to reports.” (Source:
Asbury Park Press 11/16/18- https://www.app.com/story/news/local/emergencies/2018/11/15/lakewood-measles-outbreak-eatery-hires-security-guards/2014259002/ )
I suppose anti-vaxxers don’t have a hidden agenda after suing a Brooklyn Yeshiva for the YESHIVA’s policy of vaccination requirements? I guess it’s better to abuse a yeshiva’s finances, time, effort, stress, and resources than use it for Talmud Torah of children and paying Rabbeim because anti-vaxxers have NO hidden agenda and apparently they CAN’T SEEM TO PROVIDE ANY RECENT SOURCES when I respectfully ask for them. PLEASE PROVIDE SOURCES ALREADY! (Source: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1614423/op-ed-parents-sue-brooklyn-yeshiva-to-compel-admission-of-unvaccinated-child-heres-why-they-should-lose.html )
I’ll tell you what isn’t a hidden agenda. 1. Using a yeshiva which is in line with your personal beliefs of vaccination (instead of suing, embarrassing, and trying to take money away from yeshivas). 2. Going to a restaurant which is in line with your personal beliefs of vaccination (instead of threats, anti-semetic verbal attacks towards a frum owned business which believes differently than you). 3. Not calling the same Rabbonim you take halachic advice from, but behind their back go anonymously on YWN and say that that they have a hidden agenda or they take money from Big Pharma.
It’s remarkable that the same Rabbonim who answer your sheila’s on important issues such as kashurus, niddah, and shabbos melacha all have their own “agenda” and are “getting reimbursed” by Big Pharma. Is it ironic that you trust their responses with mitzvos which can bring Chayiv’ Kares if violated, but you don’t trust them/respect them/ and verbally insult them with their thoughts on vaccinations? Perhaps that’s called hipocracy? When you respond, please bring recent sources and references (I have yet to see an anti-vaxxer respond with sources: I don’t think that’s too much to ask for).
Sammyb has very clearly laid out why arguing with anti-vaxxers is futile. He, and others like him, believe in a wild conspiracy. There is no reasoning with people like that. Would anyone here waste time arguing with Alex Jones about 9-11 and Sandy Hook? If the answer is no, you shouldn’t give Sammyb and his ilk anymore credence.
Aryehshoag, how WHAT about the ‘cleaning Mexican lady’? You mean the grown adult that comes without her children and cleans once a week, when my kids are in school? The one that isn’t preparing my food, isn’t having her unvaxx’ed children play with my children in shul for 3 hours on shabbos, the one that isn’t having her unvaxx’ed kids in school 5 or 6 days a week for 9 hours a day in school? Oh wait a minute….. her whole family is actually fully vaccinated because the public school requires it, and she isn’t picking and choosing what she wants to listen to or not listen to from her Church Pastor. But her and I don’t make a big deal out of it because taking the the advice of your primary and specialty doctor is such a mundane and simple part of life.
TGIShabbos – Maybe he meant that the Mexican Cleaning Lady is the unbiased expert or Layman that the AntiVaxxers consulted to confirm their opinions.
yitzyk, haha good point. That makes sense, since many anti-vaxxers won’t respect the opinion of Gedolim, Rabbonim, doctors, specialists, and medical academies so they will take the ‘laymans’ opinion at the street corner to agree with them.