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TEL AVIV: Israel began its COVID-19 inoculation campaign on Sunday (December 20), aiming to vaccinate some 60,000 people a day in an attempt to eradicate the disease that is once again increasing among its population.
The country will immunize healthcare workers first, followed by the elderly, high-risk Israelis and those over 60. Israel says it has obtained enough doses for much of the country’s 9 million people from both Pfizer and Moderna, whose vaccine US authorities approved this week for emergency use.
With public opinion polls showing that many Israelis are reluctant to receive injections immediately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would set a “personal example” and insisted on being the first Israeli to be vaccinated. He received the injection on Saturday night.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives a COVID-19 vaccine at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on December 19, 2020 (Photo: AP / Amir Cohen).
Netanyahu expressed his confidence in the vaccine before rolling up the right sleeve of his black short-sleeved shirt and receiving the injection. He called it an “exciting moment” that would put Israel on track to return to its normal routines. The country’s health minister also received the vaccine on Saturday.
Israel has an agreement with Pfizer to secure 8 million doses of the vaccine from the American pharmaceutical company, enough to cover almost half of Israel’s population, since each person requires two doses. Israel struck a separate deal with Moderna earlier this month to buy 6 million doses of its vaccine, enough for another 3 million Israelis.
With daily infection numbers trending upward and currently just under 3,000 a day, Israeli leaders are again debating whether to impose a third national lockdown since the pandemic began. Many restrictions remain in effect since the country’s second shutdown in the fall, with most hotels still closed and restaurants open only for delivery and takeout. Unemployment remains in the double digits.
Israel has had mixed results in its fight against the virus. Netanyahu was praised in the spring for sealing borders and blocking the country quickly, a move that hit the economy but lowered infection rates.
But a hasty and erratic reopening sent confirmed cases skyrocketing in late summer, leading to what was at the time one of the worst outbreaks in the world.
Israel has reported more than 368,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
