Q. The rofim mumchim (expert physicians) in the New England Journal of Medicine ( NEJM), CHOP, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and of Boston, and Sick Kids in Toronto do NOT RECOMMEND that children up to the age of 20 take the shot. Does this mean that the Rav is saying that you should listen to your local Physician over the rofim mumchim?
A. The opinions of different 'rofim mumchim' keep on changing constantly, and new conflicting views of experts in different parts of the world are now the rule. As we wrote on question 3217 Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that since there are many factors that depend on the particularities of the individuals involved and their medical condition, as well as the recent changes in the development of the Covid infection, a reliable and expert physician that is familiar with the patient, should be consulted in each case.
We must add that the medical opinion you quoted is by far not universally accepted, so indeed let the reliable and expert physician that is familiar with the patient and his particular condition, be consulted.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a
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