Chemists combat ‘low’ vaccine take-up
THE NHS is launching an awareness raising campaign to boost “relatively low” Covid vaccination rates in the Jewish community.
It is promoting community pharmacies as a means for the vaccine hesitant to discuss any concerns, as well as accessing the walk-in vaccinations many offer.
An NHS spokesperson said they “break that barrier that some in the Jewish community may see in getting the vaccine”.
Cullimore Chemist in Edgware, which has a significant Jewish customer base, has been a pioneer in offering the vaccine, delivering 80,000 jabs to date.
Pharmacist Hassan Khan said vaccine hesitancy among Jews was “not something we have seen much of here”. There had been some who had expressed concern, “for example, pregnant women, and I understand that.
“However, I give them the story of my best friend’s sister, who was the only one in her family who was unvaccinated. She ended up in ICU having caught Covid, had to have an emergency C-section and was in ICU for two months after the birth.
“The dangers from not being vaccinated are so much higher than from being vaccinated.”
He said those hardest to convince were the “YouTube generation”, viewing misinformation online.
“If you are uneducated on these things, you are vulnerable to false information. Education is the primary source of getting past this pandemic and on with life in general.”
Mr Khan suggests “pharmacies are a lot more accessible than large-scale vaccination sites” and have the virtue of familiarity as they are used by locals for prescriptions and medical supplies shopping.
“I think the ease of a pharmacy has made such a success of the vaccine roll-out. We were the first in London to do the vaccinations and one of the first six in the country. The figures speak for themselves.”
He praised the local Jewish community for being “so supportive of our drive.
“The majority of our volunteers have been Jewish and I think that has also helped encourage the community to come to us. That really enhanced the drive.”
Edgware United Synagogue minister Rabbi David Lister said local backing for the pharmacy had been heartening.
“I’ve seen dozens of people from my community volunteering and lining up outside to get the vaccine. The school where I’m principal, Rosh Pinah, opened up [for vaccinations] to increase capacity during the winter break.
“It is fantastic what has been going on.”
Rabbi Lister recounted one instance of vaccine hesitancy from a congregant, who had “seen a video online doing the rounds spreading misinformation about the virus.
“First of all, it is wrong. The figures speak for themselves. Since we have had the vaccine introduced, the death rate has plummeted. It is fantastic.
“I told the member it was a religious duty to have yourself vaccinated to protect your health and it is sufficiently proven for there to be no realistic doubt about it.”
Mr Khan saw similarities between the Jewish and Muslim communities “in that the value of human life is so important.
“To save one life is to save the whole of mankind so those that are spreading misinformation are going against the teachings.
“I have spoken to quite a few rabbis who say the same thing. I want to see everyone in the community vaccinated.”
The dangers from not being vaccinated are so much higher
I told shul member it’s a religious duty to get vaccinated