Charedi leaders in Stamford Hill fear the distribution of an anti-Covid vaccine booklet to homes in the area may deter those still unvaccinated from going for their jabs.

The professional-looking 44-page document describes Covid vaccines as a “novel genetic therapy” being deployed “without long-term human trials”.

Local leaders have condemned whoever is behind the publication for “trying to scare people with false information”.

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, president of Shomrim in Stamford Hill, was “very concerned about the document. If you weren’t well-informed, you might be taken in by some of what it is saying,” he admitted. “The people holding these views and distributing these brochures represent a tiny minority of the community. But it is still disturbing. We at Shomrim, and other leaders across the rabbinate, have been doing our best to counter and challenge this narrative.

“We are working closely with the heads of Hackney Health to provide the correct information and encourage everyone in the community to get vaccinated.

“Most people are being vaccinated and what we are seeing here reflects the situation in wider society.”

Jewish Community Council leader Levi Shapiro agreed that the majority of the community had already been vaccinated. “Most of them are responding very well to the calls from their GP to sign up and get the vaccine,” he said.

One community member who received the booklet told the JC that the level of “anti-vaxxing hysteria” in Stamford Hill was small compared to other areas of Charedi population — for example, the communities in New York.

“There are pockets of families and groups who won’t vaxx for a variety of reasons.

“On the other hand, there hasn’t been a real persistent drive [to encourage vaccinations].

“Hatzola had a few days and there’s been a notice here and there but not a coherent info campaign to inform and assure the public.”