Medics and strictly Orthodox women discuss vaccine hesitancy at Women’s Health Event
Dr Veronique Berman from CHANA reassured the audience that there was “no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines affect fertility”.
Medics and strictly Orthodox women in London came together to discuss vaccine hesitancy earlier this month in a first-of-its-kind event for the Charedi community.
Experts from the NHS and local authorities arranged the Women’s Health Event with CHANA, a Jewish charity focusing on fertility support, and the Interlink Foundation, which acts as an umbrella organisation for the Charedi community.
Organisers said Charedi women “had the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns, and receive expert advice on a range of health topics including oral health, fertility, winter illnesses, and immunisations for all ages, including the Covid-19 vaccination”.
Dr Tehseen Khan, a local GP who led the session, said vaccination “prepares the body to fight serious infections that might happen in the future… any missed vaccination could lead to an outbreak, such as the Polio case in Israel recently”.
Dr Khan said Covid-19 was “still circulating and still a serious disease”, adding: “It is important to still get vaccinated, to stay protected for longer, and particularly important for expectant mothers, to keep both of you safe. They are not ‘live’ vaccines and cannot give you Covid-19 infection.”
Dr Veronique Berman from CHANA reassured the audience that there was “no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines affect fertility”, adding: “You do not need to delay having a family after vaccination. Vaccination will help prevent Covid-19 infection and its serious consequences at this time in your life.”
Another topic of interest was oral health, which was led by NHS consultant Dr Charlotte Klass, who described the benefits of fluoride varnish for preventing dental decay in children, a treatment available at dental surgeries.
Panellists for the Charedi event were described as “recognisable and relatable to the audience”. Other sessions have been run for Muslim Londoners, Black Londoners, young Londoners, pregnant women, and those with learning disabilities to “provide trusted information [on vaccinations] and to encourage uptake”.
NHS England said it could not comment on the vaccine uptake in the Charedi community since the official statistics do not detail religious status.
It builds on an event last year, in which three leading Jewish GPs – Ellie Cannon, Leonora Weil, and Charlotte Benjamin – were quizzed by young Jews on everything from vaccine effectiveness to effects on fertility.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
