Jewish over-70s have highest second jab rate among faith groups

Jews have the highest take-up rate of second Covid jabs among over 70s with a stated religion.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that almost all of the community’s over 70s had taken up the offer of a second vaccine when offered.

This comes after zero Jewish community deaths linked to coronavirus have been reported since the week ending 9 April. 903 members of the community have succumbed to the virus during the pandemic.

Those who identify as Christian had a similarly high rate with 96.2 percent, while those with no religion had 95.8 percent. Those who identify as Muslim had a considerably lower take-up rate with 84.7, while whose of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage had 82 percent.

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: “The Jewish community has been hit hard by this pandemic so it is very encouraging to see that we have enthusiastically taken up the opportunity to protect ourselves and others through vaccination, with encouragement from our organisation, leading rabbis and other community leaders. This is almost certainly one of the reasons there have been no Jewish deaths recorded in Board of Deputies statistics for well over a month.”

Dr Jonathan Boyd, chief executive of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research said: “The differences are small, but the slightly higher rates among Jews may be the result of several factors. British Jews tend to have a higher than average socioeconomic profile, which is associated with higher vaccine take-up. They are overwhelmingly UK-born and speak English as their main language – again factors which would point to this result. It’s possible that the very high infection rates among Jews during the first wave also had a bearing, but this remains to be proven.”