Department of Health Sciences Faculty Articles
Title
Jewish Decisions about Childhood Vaccinations: The Unification of Medicine with Religion
ISBN or ISSN
2052-935X
Volume
5
Issue
1
Publication Date / Copyright Date
3-1-2017
Abstract
Using Rabbinic rulings, religious texts, and historical examples, this article explores the strong basis in Jewish law for an obligation to have children receive vaccinations against vaccine preventable diseases. In doing so, the article critiques the notion that medical information on vaccine risk and safety are strictly secular matters separate from religious ones. In Jewish law, medical matters of risk and safety are key to religious rulings regarding the acceptance of childhood vaccines and whether Jewish parents are obligated to have their children vaccinated. In other words, decisions regarding childhood vaccine requirements in Jewish law are religiously based upon the medical science.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
NSUWorks Citation
Turner, Akiva, "Jewish Decisions about Childhood Vaccinations: The Unification of Medicine with Religion" (2017). Department of Health Sciences Faculty Articles. 150.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_hs_facarticles/150