More than 250 Charedim attended mass vaccination event after Shabbat
Hackney Jewish community praised for being 'role models who have not been swayed by fear-mongering or misinformation'
More than 250 members of the strictly-Orthodox community took part in a mass vaccination after Shabbat on Saturday.
Hundreds of Charedim were heralded as “role models” in the fight against Covid showing they “have not been swayed by fearmongering or misinformation” about getting the jab.
During the four hour session, attended by local MP Diane Abbott and the minister responsible for vaccinations, Nadhim Zahawi, specially trained volunteers from Hatzola and health professionals administered vaccinations to 258 people.
The event took place at the John Scott Vaccination Centre in Hackney, and was jointly sponsored by the Jewish emergency service, Hatzola, in partnership with the City and Hackney GP Confederation.
It was supported by the local council, NHS City & Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Strengthening Faith Institutions and the Ostro Fayre Share Foundation.
Binyomin Stern, President of the Union of Orthodox Congregations and a Trustee of Hatzola, said the community understands “the urgent need for as many people as possible to be vaccinated.”
There has already been a high take-up of the vaccine from within the priority groups across the community and we are very grateful to Hackney Council and Hackney CCG for helping us organise this vaccination event.
Our fantastic, hard-working volunteers give up their own time to volunteer with us and we are hugely thankful for the dedication they have shown over the past year.”
Maurice Ostro, Chair of the Ostro Fayre Share Foundation, said it was “great to see so many people from the Charedi community receiving the vaccine this evening. They are role models in the fight against COVID-19 by showing that they have not been swayed by fearmongering or misinformation.”
Nadhim Zahawi gave “huge thanks” organisers, who he said are “encouraging vaccination in the Jewish community & getting people vaccinated”.
He added, “vaccines will save thousands of lives and help us get out of the pandemic”.
Diane Abbott MP told Jewish News: “I accompanied the Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi, to the mass vaccination event on Saturday. It was a very successful event. There were a number of Charedi Rabbis and community leaders present and we had a discussion with the Minister. I was impressed with the work that community leaders are doing to encourage the community to comply with coronavirus regulations. I think it is very important that all communities come forward for vaccination”.
Board of Deputies Vice President Edwin Shuker applauded organisers, saying: “We congratulate Hatzola, the Ostro Family Foundation and our own Deputy, Shmuel Yosef Davidsohn, on this important event.”
It is crucial that all of our community have their vaccinations when invited and sessions such as these which bring the vaccinations to the most vulnerable in the Charedi community are to be welcomed.”
Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney, who was also at the mass vaccination event, praised it as “a great example of grassroots groups working together to help keep people safe from coronavirus.”
Meanwhile, Laura Sharpe, CEO at the City and Hackney NHS GP Confederation, said she is “delighted by the success of last night’s event to increase uptake in Hackney’s Charedi community. It is testament to the hard work of all those involved, especially the local voluntary sector. Whether you have had a vaccine or not, it is really important to continue to follow government guidance and to keep your distance – that means sticking to the ‘hands, face, space’ advice.”
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