Rabbi Daniel Walker from Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation is urging anyone eligible to come forward for their Covid-19 vaccine and help protect the local community.
In a film produced in partnership with Alchemy Arts and NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, Rabbi Walker assured members of the Jewish community that having the vaccine is safe and does not go against the Jewish faith: “It’s absolutely allowed to take the vaccine. We don’t eat it, so there’s nothing to do with the laws of Kosher.
‘’There is nothing prohibiting a person from taking Covid-19 vaccine. It helps you protect yourself, and we have an obligation to look after our health, and more importantly, it’s because it protects other people.”
Rabbi Walker caught Covid-19 himself, but went on to recover and has now had the vaccine. He added: “The vaccine is absolutely and totally safe. I’ve had it, members of my family have had it, and I wouldn’t have had it if I didn’t think it was. All the stops were pulled out, the testing was still done. It wouldn’t have passed that testing if there was anything dangerous about it at all.’’
“We have a responsibility to each other. We have to care for each other, that’s our Halachic obligation, and it’s therefore, we absolutely must have the vaccine.’’
Current eligibility for the vaccine through the Salford NHS vaccination service include people aged 30 and over, people aged 16+ who have underlying health conditions, and carers, both paid and unpaid.
People aged 40 and over can attend walk-in clinics, which are regularly promoted through NHS Salford CCG’s social media for regular days and times updates.
The national booking system has now opened vaccination appointments for people aged 25 and over.
For more information, please go to www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine.