A group of local physicians was very concerned by the post concerning the COVID-19 vaccine that was published in the Local Jewish News Tuesday morning. We approached Dr. Michael Lederman, who has spent his entire career in the study of virology and immunology and is one of the foremost experts in this area, for his thoughts. They appear, unedited, below. He is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals/Case Medical Center where he is also Professor of Biomedical Ethics, Pathology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology. He is a member of the Association of American Physicians, the American Association of Immunologists, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and is a Fellow of the American Association of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is editor in chief of the scientific journal Pathogens and Immunity.
A number of local physicians have approached me and asked me what I thought of Dr. Eli Fink’s piece on COVID-19 vaccines in the December 7 Local Jewish News. I took a look at it and sadly, it is loaded with misinformation reflective of a poor understanding of immunity and cell biology. Here’s the scoop: While Dr. Fink is correct that the messenger RNA platform is new for vaccines, messenger RNA doesn’t do anything that he says it does. It doesn’t last long in cells as all messenger RNAs are designed to degrade. It is completely incapable of inserting itself into our own DNA as our cells don’t have the enzymes that are needed to make this happen. Dr. Fink goes on to tell us that viral infections trigger autoimmunity by getting their genes translated into our cells’ DNA. Utter nonsense! Messenger RNAs are not translated into DNA, they are translated into proteins – that’s how these vaccines work!
COVID-19 has killed nearly 300,000 Americans to date and will kill plenty more before this is all over. It’s true that most deaths are among the elderly but even infants have died of COVID-19. These RNA vaccines work, cutting down infection risk and serious disease by 90% or more. Dr Fink says we don’t know yet that these vaccines decrease transmission of the virus. Well maybe he doesn’t know it for sure but based on how these vaccines work, I would wager his life that immunization decreases transmission of the virus. If you choose to believe Dr. Fink’s nonsense, you’ll be wagering your life too!
Michael M. Lederman MD
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Biology, Pathology and Biomedical Ethics
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Concern Jewish doctor says
I have taken care of hundreds of COVID-19 patients and the majority in the ICU
There is not a single patient in the ICU and upon the floors getting hydroxychloroquine
Even President Trump when he went into the hospital did not get hydroxychloroquine
Fox news stop are mentioning hydroxychloroquine months ago
The Hasidic doctor in Munro had to leave his practice when a number of his patients died because they did not seek proper medical attention
He claimed that hydroxychloroquine cured many patients
It is true that for the vast majority of young healthy people , covid 19 will be a flu like illness, perhaps a bad one but nothing more
These people however serve as vectors to transmit the disease around the population
It is irresponsible for someone who is young or who has had the disease or even someone who claims that he/she has antibodies not to mask around others who may not be immune
One cannot assume at this time, that if you have antibodies, that you are incapable of getting the virus and passing it on though, you may not be symptomatic
When you evaluate a vaccine, you look at its effects in the total population There will of course be some people who are allergic in some who will even have an adverse reaction to the vaccine
This does not mean that the total population should Not take it. Look at how few cases they have been in years of rubella or mumps because of the vaccine
The only recent outbreak of measles occurred mainly in communities and unfortunately, many were Jewish, that did not take the vaccine
It is sad to see misinformation being propagated by someone who uses the pseudo name Vaad habriut
The danger is that people might believe that information
There are plenty of Jewish, religious doctors who have expertise in this area and we even have Jewish infectious disease specialists and these are the only ones who should be guiding our lay jewish community in the rabbis
Gut Shabbos
L Chana says
Please share with young parents:
Are you thinking of giving your child the Covid vaccine? I was doing some research on the new Covid vaccine that may be coming out soon, and I found out some information that I think is important to share with others because it is possible that it may end up being mandated for our children.
1. The Covid vaccine is only being tested in age 18 and older, and in those in good health. Check out the eligibility criteria for participants in the Moderna vaccine clinical trials here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04283461?term=vaccines&cond=Coronavirus+Infection&cntry=US&draw=2&rank=14
2. The vaccine is being fast-tracked, which means that certain medical protocols are being skipped that are usually done for other vaccines to determine safety. Pfizer states on their website: “The development of a novel vaccine is a complex and lengthy process that generally takes 10 to 15 years. Given the current global scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, …[we are] compressing stages that have taken years into months, and those that have taken months into weeks.”
https://www.pfizer.com/news/hot-topics/get_the_facts_on_our_covid_19_vaccine_candidates
3. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (and others) uses a new technology – nRNA – that has never yet been approved for human beings in a vaccine for an infectious illness. “University of Cambridge: RNA vaccines: an introduction” https://www.phgfoundation.org/briefing/rna-vaccines
4. Scientists are wary of a possible dangerous reaction to the Covid vaccine: “Coronavirus vaccine developers wary of errant antibodies” https://www.nature.com/articles/d41587-020-00016-w
5. Bill Gates was interviewed and asked about the “at least 80%” of participants having a systemic reaction from the vaccine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmsmgj5244Q (Bill Gates Norah O’Donnell CBSN)
6. Scientists are saying that most likely the side effects from the vaccine will be the same symptoms that are seen with the virus (which makes sense, because the person is creating the virus in their body): “Covid-19 vaccines may cause mild side effects, experts say, stressing need for education, not alarm” https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/27/covid-19-vaccines-may-cause-mild-side-effects-experts-say-stressing-need-for-education-not-alarm/
7. The FDA will license a vaccine even if it does not prevent infection, and the Moderna vaccine’s primary goal is to just lessen symptoms: “Experts think first COVID-19 vaccines might not prevent infections” https://www.newsbytesapp.com/timeline/world/62268/291991/experts-think-first-coroanvirus-vaccines-won-t-prevent-infection
8. As is the case with other vaccines, manufacturers will not be held financially liable for any damage or death that may occur from the Covid vaccine.
If the vaccine is not tested in children, and if it turns out that the vaccine will not prevent infection and thus will not prevent a child from giving the infection to an adult, and if the vaccine just lessens the severity of symptoms but children do not even have severe symptoms in the first place, then what justifiable reason will a school or community standards have to mandate the vaccine for our children if they decide to do so?
Standing up for the Honor of a Fellow Jew says
It was quite disturbing to read Dr. Lederman’s refute that was bigoted, rude, and lacking logic. I am not an anti-vaxxer (my children have received virtually all recommended vaccines), nor do I place my trust in vaccines. But I do appreciate analyzing scientific claims and making prudent decisions that weigh benefits vs. costs. This is a forum for Yidden who believe in Hashem and His Torah, and as such, the conversations ought to be respectful and informed. I appreciate all those who responded with self-dignity and bestowed dignity onto others as well.
Yds says
I’m sorry to have to negate the above article but when theres a conflict of interest that poses a big problem to the legitimacy of the information no matter how qualified the Dr is. His work on HIV is funded by Bill Gates. Bill Gates is also invested in covid vaccines and is pushing them heavily. He must therefore conform to the agenda of pushing covid vaccines no matter what the facts are (or aren’t).
Concerned Frum doctor says
The o-u in the vaad harabonim of Baltimore have both come up with statements urging people to take the vaccine period
It would be nice to the local Jewish news to print both of their recommendations and then this might compel our vaad to do the same