Q. New Jersey lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill to eliminate most religious exemptions for vaccines for schoolchildren. This shot is being forced now in NJ schools. What does HoRav S. Miller say about it? and would he side with frum refuseniks?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller, Shlit’a, has been quoted as ruling that, “Forcing someone to vaccinate his children against his will when the school is not compelled to do so by law, is against Daas Torah.” (thelakewoodscoop.com, et al).
On December 2018, the Rov’s name appeared together with the rest of the Rabbonim of the GTA, in the following public letter:
“Halacha relies upon the opinion of physicians and public health authorities concerning matters of health. The consensus of medical evidence supports the vaccination of children in accordance with the established childhood immunization schedule, in order to protect them from illness and disease. Accordingly, the position of major Poskim, including those of our community, supports the vaccination of children according to the Ontario Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule.
We hereby state that there is a halachic obligation on parents to vaccinate their healthy children on the timetable recommended by their pediatrician and/or family physician.”
The Rov further explained that; one should vaccinate his children following the majority of medical advise. It becomes an halachic obligation when it is required by the government.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a