By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com . December 28, 2020
A number of people are aware of the controversy about a health clinic in Williamsburg that started giving out COVID-19 vaccines to people other than the front-line health care workers. Indeed, such prominent Poskim as Rabbi Herschel Schachter and Rabbi Mordechai Willig received vaccinations from that organization as well. Rabbi Schachter even issued a statement that had he known that the origin of the vaccine was under question he would not have taken the vaccine.
What follows is an observation that has nothing to do with the details of this case, per se. It is an observation that the policy that has been adopted by the CDC as to who should be vaccinated first – is, in this author’s opinion, morally and halachically [Jewish law] bankrupt.
If one carefully examines the mission statement of the CDC – one will see that the raison d’etre of the CDC is to maximize the saving of life. Lehavdil, (to differentiate) the parameters of halacha are also to maximize the saving of life.
On December 3rd, the CDC made recommendations to the three governments throughout the nation – the federal government, the state governments and the local governments about who should be vaccinated first (Phase 1A recipients). These recommendations were based on those made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of medical and public health experts.
The three thoughts this author would like to share are as follows:
- The recommendations are wrong.
- They will kill many thousands, if not tens of thousands of people if not more.
- There is still time to change them.
The criterion as to who should be vaccinated first should be made solely with one factor in mind – to maximize the saving of life. This means if option A will save 800,000 lives and the option that the CDC has chosen will save 300,000 lives then the policy is responsible for the death of a half a million people. Those most at risk for dying should receive the vaccine first – this should be the only criterion.
The CDC stated that their recommendations were made with these goals in mind:
- Decrease death and serious disease as much as possible.
- Preserve functioning of society.
- Reduce the extra burden COVID-19 is having on people already facing disparities.
The problem is that goal #2, and goal #3 undermine goal number one. The scandal that has happened in Brooklyn should be a call to the real scandal that is happening. It should be a clarion call to all doctors, presidents, clergymen and everyone that values life to change the criterion.
Currently, healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities are offered the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines (Phase 1a). Healthcare personnel are less at-risk for dying of COVID-19. This decision will cause many thousands of deaths. True, the healthcare workers are heroes and they will be discussed later in this article. But, once again, those most at risk for dying should receive the vaccine first. That is it.
On December 22nd, the CDC made recommendations as two who should be included in Phases 1b and 1c.
1b will include frontline essential workers such as:
- fire fighters
- police officers
- corrections officers
- food and agricultural workers
- United States Postal Service workers
- manufacturing workers
- grocery store workers
- public transit workers
- those who work in the educational sector (teachers, support staff, and daycare workers.)
Really? What madness has entered the minds of the people making such decisions? The emperor has no clothes. Who are they to place value on one life versus the other? Trauma centers are designed to triage. Who made this decisions and why is this not the scandal of the century? Has the entire world gone stark raving mad??
Where is the media? Where are the doctors?
Yes, true, in the1b phase, the CDC recommendations include people aged 75 years and older because they are at high risk of hospitalization, illness, and death from COVID-19. People aged 75 years and older who are also residents of long-term care facilities should be offered vaccination in Phase 1a.
In Phase 1c, the CDC includes people aged 65—74 years “because they are at high risk of hospitalization, illness, and death from COVID-19. People aged 65—74 years who are also residents of long-term care facilities should be offered vaccination in Phase 1a.”
In 1c, the CDC includes people aged 16—64 years with underlying medical conditions which increase the risk of serious, life-threatening complications from COVID-19.
Again, a grave error that will cause tens of thousands of deaths if not more. This group should have been included in 1a.
Who else is in 1C? They are other essential workers, such as
- people who work in transportation and logistics,
- food service,
- housing construction and finance,
- information technology,
- communications,
- energy,
- law,
- media,
- public safety
- public health.
This is sheer madness, and actually a murderous, illegal, immoral policy. We have thrown out all the logic of triaging and have adopted politically correct notions in who shall live or who shall die. If ever there was a time for President Trump to step in and stop this murderous rampage he should do so now. It will be his greatest legacy.
The argument has been made that healthcare workers should receive it first because otherwise no one will be there to help those who are sick. This is actually not true. Our healthcare workers are true heroes. As someone who witnessed them firsthand in the hospital, I questioned them and most did not have it. They are the real heroes of COVID-19 and would do it anyway. We are under-estimating the nature and character of our nurses and healthcare workers. And by doing so, we have adopted a policy that will kill untold tens of thousands.
The CDC must not forget the words of the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Let’s go back to that first of the three – Life. Life comes before all. The CDC in this murderous, politically correct policy is depriving Americans of their inalienable rights – the right to live. This policy must be changed. We are murdering our fellow Americans.
It is this author’s view that it is our moral duty to point out this moral and ethical failure of the CDC and get it changed as soon as possible. Doctors, clergymen, public policy politicians – where are you?
The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com.
Hopes that the vaccines will end the lockdown are false. The epidemiologists and immunologists are determined to make the lockdown permanent. And governments will go along. Only a massive public revolt, a “just say no” to lockdown orders, and a complete loss of faith by the public in thecredibility the fearmongering medical scientists (most of whom have never actually treated patients) will end the madness.
From today’s Arutz Sheva:
South African COVID variant can ‘bypass immune protection’ say health experts
Scientists fear it could take months to adapt existing vaccines; meanwhile, new mutations are likely to emerge.
Coronavirus strain
As the United Kingdom enters its strictest lockdown since early spring, fears are mounting that a new strain of the coronavirus, dubbed the “South African variant,” will prove more resilient than the previous most widespread strain to any of the coronavirus vaccines currently available or under development.
Speaking on Monday evening, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the weeks ahead “will be the hardest yet” as he rolled out sweeping new restrictions on the UK population, to become almost immediately effective. These include the closure of all schools and universities, and also of all non-essential stores and businesses. The measures are to remain in place until February 22nd at the very least.
Calling the new coronavirus mutation “a game changer,” Mark Woolhouse, professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Edinburgh University said that “the Prime Minister’s announcement of a full national lockdown [had been] almost inevitable.” He also warned that, “Given the estimates of the transmissibility of the new variant, this lockdown may not be as effective as [previous ones] … and it may be that the best we can hope for is that the situation does not deteriorate further.”
The latest estimates are that the new variant is 50% more contagious than previous strains, although data have yet to confirm that the mutation is more deadly. The main concern, however, is that vaccines being billed as “the end to the coronavirus era” will no longer deliver what many have been counting on.
According to Dr. Julian W. Tang, clinical virologist and honorary associate professor at Leicester University, “The South African variant differs significantly from the UK variant in several ways that may impact on vaccine effectiveness.”
He explains that although “both variants share the N501Y mutation … where the virus binds to the host cell … the South African variant has two more mutations … [which] may interfere more with vaccine effectiveness. This does not mean that the existing Covid-19 vaccines will not work at all, just that the antibodies induced by the current vaccines may not bind and neutralize the South African variant as well as it would the other circulating viruses.”
His words were confirmed by Francois Balloux, a professor at UCL Genetics Institute, who went further and noted that, “The South African variant carries a mutation in the spike protein … which has been shown to reduce antibody recognition. As such, it helps the [coronavirus] to bypass immune protection provided by prior infection or vaccination.”
Dr. Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at Reading University, added that, “The South African variant is a more difficult virus to track, as it lacks some mutations in the spike … which make it easily detectable by the PCR test” that is widely used in many countries to test for coronavirus.
Prof. Tang estimates that “vaccines can be modified to be more close-fitting and effective against this variant,” but that it will take at least “a few months” before this can be achieved.
Meanwhile, of course, additional mutations are likely to be discovered, given that to date, literally thousands of mutations have been identified, all over the world.
“South African COVID variant can ‘bypass immune protection’ say health experts
Scientists fear it could take months to adapt existing vaccines; meanwhile, new mutations are likely to emerge.
Coronavirus strain
As the United Kingdom enters its strictest lockdown since early spring, fears are mounting that a new strain of the coronavirus, dubbed the “South African variant,” will prove more resilient than the previous most widespread strain to any of the coronavirus vaccines currently available or under development.
Speaking on Monday evening, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the weeks ahead “will be the hardest yet” as he rolled out sweeping new restrictions on the UK population, to become almost immediately effective. These include the closure of all schools and universities, and also of all non-essential stores and businesses. The measures are to remain in place until February 22nd at the very least.
Calling the new coronavirus mutation “a game changer,” Mark Woolhouse, professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Edinburgh University said that “the Prime Minister’s announcement of a full national lockdown [had been] almost inevitable.” He also warned that, “Given the estimates of the transmissibility of the new variant, this lockdown may not be as effective as [previous ones] … and it may be that the best we can hope for is that the situation does not deteriorate further.”
The latest estimates are that the new variant is 50% more contagious than previous strains, although data have yet to confirm that the mutation is more deadly. The main concern, however, is that vaccines being billed as “the end to the coronavirus era” will no longer deliver what many have been counting on.
According to Dr. Julian W. Tang, clinical virologist and honorary associate professor at Leicester University, “The South African variant differs significantly from the UK variant in several ways that may impact on vaccine effectiveness.”
He explains that although “both variants share the N501Y mutation … where the virus binds to the host cell … the South African variant has two more mutations … [which] may interfere more with vaccine effectiveness. This does not mean that the existing Covid-19 vaccines will not work at all, just that the antibodies induced by the current vaccines may not bind and neutralize the South African variant as well as it would the other circulating viruses.”
His words were confirmed by Francois Balloux, a professor at UCL Genetics Institute, who went further and noted that, “The South African variant carries a mutation in the spike protein … which has been shown to reduce antibody recognition. As such, it helps the [coronavirus] to bypass immune protection provided by prior infection or vaccination.”
Dr. Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at Reading University, added that, “The South African variant is a more difficult virus to track, as it lacks some mutations in the spike … which make it easily detectable by the PCR test” that is widely used in many countries to test for coronavirus.
Prof. Tang estimates that “vaccines can be modified to be more close-fitting and effective against this variant,” but that it will take at least “a few months” before this can be achieved.
Meanwhile, of course, additional mutations are likely to be discovered, given that to date, literally thousands of mutations have been identified, all over the world.” “
@ stevenl: Very true, stevenl
From the Jerusalem Post:
“The Jerusalem Post – Israel News CORONAVIRUS ISRAEL NEWS WORLD NEWS MIDDLE EAST U.S. POLITICS Login
Jerusalem Post Israel News
49-year-old struck with anaphylactic shock after receiving COVID vaccine
The man told the medical staff present he has had allergic reactions to penicillin, but doesn’t have any other illness.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF DECEMBER 30, 2020 10:15 Email Twitter Facebook fb-messenger
Doses of vaccinations against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen as Israel continues its national vaccination drive, in east Jerusalem December 23, 2020. (photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)
Doses of vaccinations against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are seen as Israel continues its national vaccination drive, in east Jerusalem December 23, 2020.
(photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)
A 49-year-old man arrived at a Jerusalem emergency medical center an hour after he was given a COVID-19 vaccination on Monday by his health care provider, suffering from severe anaphylactic shock.
The man told the medical staff present that he has had allergic reactions to penicillin, but he doesn’t have any other illness. His condition has since been stabilized.
Ynet noted that in other cases where individuals have had anaphylactic shocks in reaction to the vaccine, they have emerged unscathed once treated. This man was the first in Israel to have such a reaction.
On Thursday, a Boston doctor who has a shellfish allergy had a severe allergic reaction to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
December 20, the CDC issued official guidelines for protocols in cases where recipients have an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. This came after five people suffered allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine.”
There is also a Post article that describes how 26 residents of a nursing home in Israel developed coronavirus after being vaccinated.
Also: an official of the WHO organization admitted this week that there is no evidence that a person who has been vaccinated is less likely to contract cv19 than those who have no been vaccinated. An extraordinary admission. If this is true, why was all that money spent on developing vaccines, and why is everyone under such pressure to be vaccinated?
@ Adam Dalgliesh:
The vast majority of deaths are with and not from!
The media purposely conflate “with” and “from”. Fear and ignorance must be maintained.
Nobel prize Professor Montagnier (HIV/ France) will not take the vaccine for lack of info about long term sides effects of these new type of vaccines!
From today’s Arutz Sheva
“72-year-old from northern Israel gets Bell’s Palsy after Covid-19 vaccination
Woman finds she cannot feel one side of her face several days after Covid vaccination. She is told this is a side effect of the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccine
Iza Dubinovsky, a 72-year-old resident of Karmiel, was vaccinated against coronavirus last week, similar to many of her peers across the country.
Channel 12 reported that one morning, several days after receiving the treatment, Dubinovsky was surprised to find that she did not feel one side of her face.
Dubinovsky arrived at the hospital where she was examined and told that the occurrence was indeed a side effect of the vaccine and that after drug treatment it was expected to pass.
“I was terribly stressed,” Dubinovsky told Channel 12. “I had a hard time drinking and eating. I was afraid it would stay that way.”
Iza hurried to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, where she underwent CT and head scans that came out normal, after which it was concluded that the condition was a side effect of the vaccine. She was given a prescription for steroid treatment and is resting at home until the paralysis passes. She now wonders whether it’s a good idea to get the second dose of the vaccine.
According to the director of the neurology department at the Galilee Medical Center, Dr. Samih Badarna, “This is a relatively common phenomenon called peripheral facial nerve palsy (Bell’s Palsy). The reasons for this phenomenon are not clear. Some people claim that it is a viral disease, while others believe that it is a sign of an autoimmune sickness (when the body’s immune system produces antibodies against its healthy components).”
According to various studies the paralysis disappears within a period of up to six weeks in 85% of known cases. In 10% of cases there is an improvement in condition but various symptoms remain, such as a constricted face and/or a closed eye, and in 5% of cases the sickness remains.
Dr. Badarna also emphasized that Bell’s Palsy is not the only condition that could occur as a result of the vaccine: “Any autoimmune disease based on the body’s immune system can manifest or break out following its reception,” he said.”
One fact that this author has overlooked is that as many people may die from taking the vaccine as will die from covid. There have already been several deaths and many “allergic reactions” to the vaccine. They are being covered up.