The Eldest Oyster: Herd Immunity vs. Herd Mentality

 

O Oysters, come and walk with us!'

      The Walrus did beseech.

A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,

      Along the briny beach:

We cannot do with more than four,

      To give a hand to each.'

 

The eldest Oyster looked at him,

      But never a word he said:

The eldest Oyster winked his eye,

      And shook his heavy head —

Meaning to say he did not choose

      To leave the oyster-bed.

 

Way back in my yeshiva bochur days when personal computers (PCs) were just becoming a “thing”, I took a short summer course in computer sciences. This was the dawn of technical acceleration when anything one bought might be outdated before he could get it out of the box. The non-observant course instructor gave me a bit of advice that is applicable to all new innovations, not just computers, which I have treasured ever since.

He said: “Never buy any new product or technology the minute it comes to market. You can’t tell what will succeed and what won’t. Let the other people be the guinea pigs!”

I may be paraphrasing his opening sentence but his last sentence is word for word: Let the other people be the guinea pigs.

And I have never forgotten those words. I am not interested in being a guinea pig.

So let’s get up to date.

Last August, I was stricken with “the pandemic”. About the same time, several other members of my shul in Har Nof came down with it. We are all in the same age range. Baruch Hashem, all of us had relatively mild cases – mine was exceedingly mild – and we were all dancing back within 10 days. I have not taken a serological anti-body test, but I haven't gotten it since. 

As you might imagine, like many members of this planet, I have been digesting all the medical and “scientific” information that has been spoon-fed to us over the past year and certainly in the recent two months. The resulting composite information is essential to determine if getting a vaccination is a good idea or not. And my conclusion is…

I don’t know.

And what is the best thing to do when one doesn’t know?

Nothing.

Wait and see until you know better. In the meanwhile…do nothing.

In Halachic terms, it’s called שב ואל תעשה עדיף.

The Navi Yeshaya (26:20) calls it: חבי כמעט רגע עד יעבור זעם.

“Wait just a moment until the anger passes.”

This seems to be the sensible thing to do (or not do). What’s the hurry?

But, it’s not just a “hurry”. It’s a mad rush. A frenzy!

 

But four young Oysters hurried up,

      All eager for the treat:

Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,

      Their shoes were clean and neat —

And this was odd, because, you know,

      They hadn't any feet.

 

Four other Oysters followed them,

      And yet another four;

And thick and fast they came at last,

      And more, and more, and more —

All hopping through the frothy waves,

      And scrambling to the shore.

 

Now, I have elderly parents (LOY”T) who live in the US. This is the community where I grew up, so I have a married sister and married brother who also live there. Unlike me, these siblings are in constant proximity with my parents and can look after their needs.

Baruch Hashem, my parents have managed to dodge the Covid-19 bullet all these months. Social distancing is easy at their age. And now comes the question of whether to vaccinate or not. Actually, my parents (LOY”T) are in remarkably good health both physically and mentally and they can make their own choices. We siblings only act as “advisors”. We all want what’s best, but it is hard to agree on what is best. And we don’t.

I, and at least one other sibling here in Eretz Yisrael, are on the “not now” platform. Why?

Three primary reasons:

1. We don’t know if this vaccine works.
   
   
2. We don’t know if it’s necessary.
   
   
3. We don’t know if it’s safe.

Reasons 1 and 2 are not necessarily deal breakers. Even if it doesn’t work and even if it’s not necessary, why not take it? What is there to lose? It’s free, after all.

 

But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,

      Before we have our chat;

For some of us are out of breath,

      And all of us are fat!'

No hurry!' said the Carpenter.

      They thanked him much for that.

 

Now we arrive at reason number 3. We don’t know if it’s safe. And we can’t know until it has been out and about and meticulously tested through all scenarios – young and old, male and female, in perfect health and in compromised health, through conception and pregnancy and nursing, and that it lasts at least a year – everything.

And it hasn’t been.

And, as long as it hasn’t been properly tested, it remains a risk. Are we allowed to take such risks?

According to many poskim such as [Mori V’Rabi] HRHG Rav Asher Zelig Weiss, Shlita, we are allowed to do so as long as it is clear that the benefits are high and the risks are low. In his opinion it is all but an obligation.

This is his psak and I submit to this halachic ruling when it is in fact clear that the benefits are high and the risks are low.

But are they?

Mori V’Rabi HRHG A Z Weiss is convinced that they are. As such, he holds it is a mitzvah to get the vaccine. Everybody should, young and old man and woman. And…the sooner the better.

I am not so convinced. This is where reasons 1 and 2 come in. In order to determine that the benefits are high, we need to examine what benefits there are, as well as for whom. The presumed benefits are (1) that it works, so it protects people from getting infected and (2) it’s necessary, meaning that getting infected is really so drastic and that there are not better and safer ways to deal with it.

HRHG Rav A Z Weiss, Shlita, and some other outspoken rabbanim – HRHG Rav Mordechai Willig, Shlita, HRHG Rav Gershon Edelstein, Shlita, HRHG Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Shlita, HRHG Rav Dovid Cohen, Shlita of Chevron Yeshiva – as well as several sincere, devout and learned chareidi medical authorities such as Rabbi Dr. Aharon Glatt and Rabbi Elimelech Firer, to name a few, are all convinced that it is safe and have reassured us accordingly.

What is this based on?

It is based on the hurried and abbreviated phase-one “clinical trials” performed by such paragons of virtue as Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Rabbi Dr. Glatt assures us that these two abbreviated studies “miraculously” yielded identical conclusive results and were supervised by some independent “advisory committees”.

But do you know WHO hasn’t assured us that it is safe?

Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZaneca and the FDA. That’s WHO.

 

A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,

      Is what we chiefly need:

Pepper and vinegar besides

      Are very good indeed —

Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,

      We can begin to feed.'

 

But not on us!' the Oysters cried,

      Turning a little blue.

After such kindness, that would be

      A dismal thing to do!'

The night is fine,' the Walrus said.

      Do you admire the view?

 

They admit that there has been no long-term testing at all (how could there be?) and none on pregnant or nursing women (who would volunteer for this?), or on all age ranges, or on all kinds of people with other health conditions.  All this is not to mention all of these new “variants” that keep coming out every second week.

This is along with some ex-Pfizer scientists and a number of chareidi scientists who question the integrity of this vaccine. And need we mention a sizable proportion of doctors, front line health workers and nursing home attendants who refuse to take the vaccine?

So it’s not like there aren’t any dissenters out there with just as many diplomas and certificates as Rabbi Dr. Glatt and Rabbi Firer and the whole lineup of distinguished rabbanim. And it’s not like anyone at all who vouches for this vaccine is putting anything on the line. Anything at all.

There is no liability or redress for anyone who may suffer adverse reactions to this vaccine. Not from Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, any government, Anthony Fauchi, Bill Gates or anybody. Or even from Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, Rabbi Elimelech Firer, Bibi, Litzman or any posek. Nobody.

You are on your own. But don’t worry. It’s safe.

 

It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,

      To play them such a trick,

After we've brought them out so far,

      And made them trot so quick!'

The Carpenter said nothing but

      The butter's spread too thick!'

 

But aside from the question of safety which is a throwback to above reason number 3, we have very little to go on that it actually works (above reason number 1). In the well-circulated December 20 interview, Rabbi Dr. Glatt was singing the praises of this vaccine and how much chessed HKBH has done to get this out so quick and, of course, he lauded the Pfizer/Moderna propaganda about their clinical trials on how well it works. But he couldn’t tell us how many people he knows or treated personally that were protected by this vaccine.   

After this, in the same presentation, comes a halachic perspective by HRHG Rav Mordechai Willig, Shlita. I couldn’t help but notice that the entire halachic perspective relies on the veracity of the medical position supported by people like Rabbi Dr. Glatt. (Yes, this can also be applied to the position of HRHG Rav A Z Weiss.)

But the ironic part of Rabbi Willig’s remarks was the point where, on Dec. 20., he expressly quotes a statement from HRHG Rav Dovid Cohen from Yeshivat Chevron on how it is essentially important to take this vaccine (54:15). Dec. 20 was the day the vaccine drive was initially launched here in Eretz Yisrael and HRHG Rav Dovid Cohen was one of the first to take it. Ten days later, he came down with Covid-19.

Now, we may all say that he only took the first dose and even the manufacturers say that it is “only 50%” effective after only the first dose. But…we must keep in mind that he successfully avoided getting infected for all of the previous nine months! Only now he caught it. Likewise, the Israeli MSM reports that over 4500 people came down with Covid-19 after taking the first dose of the vaccine. Incidentally, this is a moving number because many of those people took the vaccine 10-20 days ago. For those who took it over the past week or so, it is too early to tell if they will (ch”v) add to this number. But the thing to keep in mind is that all these are folks who avoided getting sick until now sans the vaccine!

At this point I will add the most recent piece of news that HRHG Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, Shlita, came down with Covid-19 after taking the second dose of the vaccine. (Incidentally, another very recent news item tells us that 29 elderly people in Norway died from complications after taking the vaccine.)

So, anybody, Rabbi, Dr. or posek, who tells us it is incumbent to take the vaccine because the benefits overshadow the risks have nothing but the inadequate studies and clinical trials to assure us that there even are any benefits. So much for reason 1.

But what alarms me so much more is reason number 2 – do we really need it?

 

I weep for you,' the Walrus said:

      I deeply sympathize.'

With sobs and tears he sorted out

      Those of the largest size,

Holding his pocket-handkerchief

      Before his streaming eyes.

 

I was truly alarmed, or even spooked, by the rhetoric of Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt who was singing and dancing about the “tremendous chessed” of the RBSO who created for us this vaccine.

I would leave HKBH out of this discussion. I don’t know how this line is going to go over, but I will say it anyway: HKBH is as much “creditworthy” for making this vaccine as He is for making Zyklon B. No more, no less.

Everything that exists in this world has the “stamp of approval” of the Boreh Olam Yisbarach Shmo to exist but this does not make it a good thing. He gave us this virus and He did so for a reason (or several). We can’t really know what it is, but I am a bit skeptical it is because He wants us to defend ourselves against it with a man-made vaccine.

Moreover, we have an adage that HKBH sends the refuah before the makkah. Way before HKBH created this vaccine, he created remedies like hydroxy-chloroquine and Ivermectin which many well accredited medical authorities claim to be very effective again this virus. And He created zinc and vitamin D3 way before that. Not a word of praise from Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt on these or even any acknowledgement that they exist.

It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,

      To play them such a trick,

After we've brought them out so far,

      And made them trot so quick!'

The Carpenter said nothing but

      The butter's spread too thick!'

 

But, if they are effective, this makes the pandemic all that much less drastic and a vaccine all that much more unnecessary (and not worth the risks). Add to this the overwhelming fact that the population under 60 years old is much less seriously affected by this virus. And for those under 50 with no known health risks, the chances of severe consequences are almost infinitesimally small. As for women of child-bearing age who are pregnant and/or nursing or plan to be, even the mighty WHO does not recommend taking the vaccine if for no other reason than lack of data.

So, all told, for a great portion of the population, it is all but impossible to say that the benefits clearly overshadow the risks. And this makes it all the more alarming that people such as Rabbi Dr. Glatt and Rabbi Elimelech Firer, and even great rabbanim such as Rav A Z Weiss, Shlita, Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, and Rabbi Willig, Shlita are all urging all of us to get vaccinated straight out of the box and making no distinctions between high-risk and low-risk candidates or child-capable women or anything!

I am sorry to say but, to me, this doesn’t add up.

 

O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,

      You've had a pleasant run!

Shall we be trotting home again?'

      But answer came there none —

And this was scarcely odd, because

      They'd eaten every one."

 

Many years ago, I was taught by a long-haired non-observant Jew not to buy any product without a proven track record. Not to be a guinea pig. This, when the only ramification is losing some money and a bit of aggravation. Today, some of the most distinguished chareidi gedolim and esteemed medical askanim are telling me otherwise when there are more serious issues at stake.

It’s a tough call, but I am not as young as I used to be.

 

The eldest Oyster looked at him,

      But never a word he said:

The eldest Oyster winked his eye,

      And shook his heavy head —

Meaning to say he did not choose

      To leave the oyster-bed.

 

שב ואל תעשה עדיף