Halachic aspects of vaccination

Date

2008

Authors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU)

YU Faculty Profile

Abstract

Perhaps it is because we live in twenty-first century America, a country largely immune from true epidemics, that we take vaccination for granted and some parents even consider not vaccinating their children. A Jew living in the eighteenth century would have longed for respite from the relentless onslaught of diseases, and could only have dreamed of having a way to prevent them. The thought of refusing vaccinations would never have entered his mind. Unfortunately, nowadays, as a result of misleading information, some parents are confused about the issue and do not realize the importance of vaccinations. A cursory review of the origins of vaccination in medical and rabbinical literature may provide some perspective on the issue.

Description

Scholarly article / Open access

Keywords

Law, Jewish, Diseases, Health Care, Israel, Health Care

Citation

Reichman, E. (2008). Halachic aspects of vaccination. Jewish Action, 69(2), 10–14.