Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 09, 2007 Cheshvan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:50 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 00:25 09/11/2007 Measles outbreak improves image of vaccination in J'lem By Tamar Rotem tags: Jerusalem, vaccination  One morning this week, at the Breslav Hasidism's central synagogue in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, a healing ritual was performed to cure a child with measles. In the worst case of this year's measles outbreak, the 12-year-old girl has been on artificial respiration in Shaare Zedek Hospital's intensive care unit since the beginning of the week. Yesterday, her condition was described as serious. Most of the 180 people who have contracted the disease this year are from the ultra-Orthodox communities of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, where there remains some resistance to vaccinations. However, the scope of the disease this time around has led to an unprecedented vaccination drive of more than 10,000 ultra-Orthodox school children. The Israel Association for Public Health Services is responsible for vaccinations in schools, under the Health Ministry's supervision. Advertisement The latest flare-up of measles began at the end of summer, when two carriers of the virus arrived from London to attend an ultra-Orthodox wedding in Jerusalem. The two were hospitalized in Jerusalem. Shortly afterward, dozens of patients, mostly children and pregnant women from ultra-Orthodox families who did not vaccinate their children, contracted the disease in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak. Dr. Nitza Abramson, the deputy Jerusalem district health officer, said there may be even more measles cases. "We assume that dozens of patients have not been reported," she said. The ultra-Orthodox refusal to be vaccinated is connected to a traditional rejection of Zionism. Following the establishment of the State of Israel, many refused to cooperate with its institutions, including the National Insurance Institute, the Histadrut's health maintenance organization and well-baby clinics. Vaccinations were seen as government policy and boycotted. In any case, the ultra-Orthodox public largely believes that everything is in God's hands. Even though one must make the effort and go to the doctor, measles was not seen as a disease people die from. Over the years, the ultra-Orthodox boycott of many state institutions has weakened and today Mea Shearim residents have become ardent HMO members and most of them even vaccinate their children. However, pockets of resistance to vaccination remain in Neturei Karta and Hasidic courts such as Satmar, Dushinsky Dushinsky, Toldos Aharon and Toldos Avraham Yitzhak. Some families don't vaccinate their children for other reasons, preferring alternative medicine, whose popularity is spreading among newly religious people and the Breslav community. The Health Ministry's efforts to inform the ultra-Orthodox about the importance of vaccinations was blocked until recently and even talks with their rabbis did no good. During the previous measles outbreak, in 2003, an ultra-Orthodox child died, but the authorities' bid to vaccinate the community was only partially successful. Ahuva Holtzberg, the head nurse of the Israel Association for Public Health Services, believes that the ultra-Orthodox community's cooperation with the present vaccination operation derives from the fact that it is not being run by the Health Ministry itself. "It's like a burst dam -- when one school hears that another's children are being vaccinated, it quickly decides to vaccinate its own pupils also," said Eli Haimo, a veteran association nurse. Haimo also said the notices that the association sent parents did not bear the Health Ministry's logo, so as not to deter them. School principles were promised that the names of the inoculated children would not be passed on to the Health Ministry. Male nurses conducted the vaccinations in boys' schools while female ones did the work in the girls' schools. In addition, many parents of smaller children bring them to association centers for inoculation. Bookmark to del.icio.us Preface to peace? The U.S. has rejected Abbas' demand for a schedule for the final-status agreement. Crowd control The IFA has banned Beitar Jerusalem fans from two home games for booing Rabin.   1.   Backward and irresponsable mentality puting children at risk 05:13  |  Jorge 09/11/07   2.   Resistance against Vaccination 07:19  |  Yohan Dahal 09/11/07   3.   MMR jabs [ measles, mumps, rhubella] 11:33  |  Joseph 09/11/07   4.   Politics and health 11:37  |  Sherlock Holmes 09/11/07   5.   Male and female nurses 11:42  |  Motic 09/11/07

Today Online Shmuel Rosner: The lies of today's U.S. candidates aren't new Responses: 12 Jessica Balaban: Why should world Jewry aid Israeli Arabs Responses: 33 Jacob Victor: Mukasey is the latest victim of the malaise of U.S. Jewish leadership Responses: 12 Israel, PA agree future deals conditional on carrying out road map Responses: 32 Israel seeks fresh Holocaust reparations deal with Germany Responses: 32 M. Firillas: Pakistan turmoil raises specter of an Islamic bomb Responses: 9 More Headlines 09:41 Israel, PA agree future deals hinge on implementing road map 11:38 East Jerusalem man charged in alleged bid to sell info on MIA 09:25 Israeli envoy to U.K. Zvi Heifetz likely to advise Blair on Mideast 11:35 Aide to Spanish PM: Spain wants to improve relations with Israel 10:02 Israel seeks fresh Holocaust reparations deal with Germany 02:56 Knesset Constitution Committee seeks reform of electoral system 09:11 Fellow journalists to honor Haaretz commentator Yoel Marcus in Eilat 10:12 Pakistani police place ex-PM Bhutto under house arrest to halt rally 08:13 T.A. threatens to sue electric company for bridge over power plant 04:13 Tottenham defeats Hapoel Tel Aviv in UEFA Cup match 23:06 UN Chief orders full probe of rocket launching from school in Gaza Previous Editions Select Day 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved