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LEI: Mayor Tom Henning Slethei (FrP) says Norwegian authorities are passively waiting for the vaccine doses. He believes that it should be possible to conclude separate vaccine agreements, outside the EU and the Norwegian authorities. Photo: Fredrik Refvem, Stavanger Aftenblad
The mayor of Sola believes that the Norwegian authorities are too passive in negotiations on vaccine doses and will take matters into their own hands.
Tom Henning Slethei (Frp), mayor of Sola, on Thursday sent a letter to the Israeli ambassador in Norway asking him about the possibility of buying vaccines from Israel.
It was Stavanger Aftenblad who first brought up the case.
For VG, Mayor Slethei says there were two reasons why he decided to send the letter:
– The sun must give vaccines, while Stavanger and Sandnes can keep theirs. I respond that we are treated differently in a common job and housing market. Norway repeatedly receives very few vaccines, but the government does not give a clear and unequivocal answer to what they are doing to get more. So we have to do something about it ourselves.
The mayor of Sola says that he considers that the new skewed distribution of vaccines does not sympathize with many municipalities. Now he wants a similar agreement between Denmark and Austria with Israel.
See the response of the Ministry of Health at the end of the case.
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Israeli Ambassador: – Will consider cooperation
This fall, the mayor received a visit from Israel’s ambassador to Norway, Alon Roth. Slethei claims that he has not received a formal response from Israel to the letter, but for Stavanger Aftenblad the ambassador has been positive about a possible collaboration.
– Israel is always positive to promote and implement technological cooperation, especially in the health sector these days. Together, we’d like to take a closer look and evaluate the proposed collaboration, says Alon Roth.
Slethei says he has received a lot of positive feedback on the initiative. The mayor emphasizes that Sola will be happy to share vaccines from Israel with other municipalities, if an agreement can be reached.
POSITIVE: – Together we would like to take a closer look and evaluate the proposed collaboration, Ambassador Alon Roth tells Stavanger Aftenblad. Photo: Trond Solberg, VG
– Strange if not allowed
– Have you checked if this is really legal? That the municipalities operate on their own?
– Now first I want to see if it is possible to get a collaboration because I think that the government does very little and is very little proactive. If it is not allowed, then it is strange. I want to see which minister denies us critical doses of vaccines, says Mayor Slethei.
– Should the municipality pay for these vaccines itself? Do you think many will oppose this?
– I have received text messages from large companies saying they want to contribute. In any case, the cost of vaccines will not be high, compared to the relief this will have for businesses and residents of the region.
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– You must follow the vaccination program.
VG has asked the Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) what they think about the wishes of the municipality of Sola and the legality of a possible vaccine collaboration.
– There is no indication that Israel has vaccine doses for sale in the near future. Municipalities must adhere to the national vaccination program. Approving, purchasing and distributing vaccines is complicated and requires a professional organization, responds Secretary of State Saliba Andreas Korkunc of the Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD).
– What do you think of the criticism of the mayor of Sola?
– Norway has already signed agreements through EU cooperation, which means that we can vaccinate the entire adult population three times. We hope to be able to vaccinate all the adults who wish to do so during the summer.
VG has again asked HOD to respond if there is a law that dictates that the municipality of Sola do not may enter into a vaccine collaboration with Israel. The Ministry responds as follows:
– Municipalities must comply with the national vaccination program. That is our answer.
