On the evening of June 19, Shomrei Torah of Fair Lawn held a booster clinic for adults to inoculate against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), making it the first synagogue in Bergen County and likely the entire state of New Jersey to do so. The opportunity was not just made available to shul members, but for the Fair Lawn community at large, with both Mayor Kurt Peluso and Councilmember Cristina Cutrone on board with the program and in attendance. Nearly 50 people signed on and received their booster shots.

Rabbi Andrew Markowitz, who initiated the idea, explained, “It’s a positive way to counteract all the negative publicity regarding vaccinations and the Orthodox Jewish community, while at the same time adhering to the biblical mitzvah of taking care of our bodies.” Both the Rabbi and his wife Sara were among those inoculated.

Rachel Krich, vice president of membership and part of Shomrei Torah’s leadership team, helped coordinate the event and explained its genesis. “The leadership team felt that it was very important that we provide this service to our community. We worked together with the town and with CVS to bring this to our shul as a service to the entire community.”

Part of the impetus for this effort stemmed from an incident in which a rabbi in Detroit had contracted the measles despite having been inoculated. The episode had led to a number of public service announcements in the Detroit Jewish community to educate the public.

As background, although the measles vaccine was developed in 1963, it wasn’t until 1989 that public health officials started recommending a two-dose vaccine. One dose provides 93% protection, while a second dose brings it to 97%, which, as noted by Krich, is considered full immunity. According to health officials, another plus for the small percentage of people who contract the disease despite being inoculated is that their symptoms will be milder and clear up more quickly. The Center for Disease Control has stated that those fully vaccinated are also much less likely to spread the disease. On the other hand, 90% of the unvaccinated population who are exposed will contract the disease, which is why there has been such an uproar about those who refuse to have their children vaccinated.

Krich spoke of the need for the observant Jewish community to be especially vigilant. “The difference is our lifestyle, which makes us more susceptible. We tend to be heavy travelers, many are in shul together three times a day, and on Shabbos we are together in close quarters as a community.”

As for the logistics of coordinating this event, it began when Rabbi Markowitz reached out to Krich around Pesach time. She had been the point person for an earlier flu clinic. Shul member Sophia Tamarov, who is a pharmacist for CVS and had administered the flu vaccinations, was called upon again for the MMR effort. She noted that CVS was incredibly receptive to the idea, and shared that those born before 1957 didn’t need the booster, since they were likely already exposed and immune to the measles because it was widespread in that era.

To ensure the concept would gain widespread attention, the team contacted Councilperson Cutrone. She in turn connected with Carol Wagner of the Fair Lawn Department of Health. Wagner helped spread the word and through her associations at the New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, she was able to secure 50 free MMR vaccinations for those who didn’t have the proper insurance documents for the initial effort. Although a date has yet to be established, the follow-up clinic is expected to take place in several weeks.

Publicity for the June 19 event included an email to the Shomrei Torah shul list, postings in all Fair Lawn Facebook groups, both Jewish and other and a department of health notification in the Fair Lawn Library.

As he watched the first individuals arrive for their inoculations, Mayor Peluso commented, “This is what Fair Lawn is all about. If we can help with any religious organization to better our community, we want to be there.”

Councilperson Cutrone added, “The press likes to cover negative events. This is a positive one and shows how unique Fair Lawn is. The people who signed up are not just from Shomrei Torah. It’s a great community event that brings us together.”

Rabbi Markowitz echoed that thought, “We are addressing a need not just for our shul but for the entire community.”

By Robert Isler

Robert Isler is a freelance writer who lives in Fair Lawn. He can be reached at [email protected].

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