Health Minister Edelstein: “Today we will cross the threshold of one million vaccinators”

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950,000 people in Israel have so far been vaccinated as part of Operation “Give a Shoulder”, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said this morning (Friday). This is more than ten percent of the general public in Israel.

The director general of the Ministry of Health estimates: “We will start vaccinating the young population in February” // Photo: GPO

Edelstein further updated: “Just yesterday we broke another record and vaccinated 153,430 people at 325 vaccination stations across the country.” According to him, today Israel will cross the threshold of one million vaccinators. “On behalf of all of you, I thank the medical staff for the amazing work,” he added.

According to updated immunization data, about a third of those vaccinated belong to the target group of people aged 60 and over. In addition, it turns out that the highest rates of immunization were recorded in the peripheral localities, and at the bottom of the list are the Arab and ultra-Orthodox localities.

Meanwhile, the director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Hezi Levy, said yesterday that the first round of the vaccination campaign is expected to end on January 10, when the first vaccinated group will receive two vaccine doses, and then, in early February, an extension of the vaccination campaign is expected: Certain when some of the vaccines arrive in Israel and there will be a delay of about two weeks. At this time we will of course vaccinate the second dose. For those who are immune to the first dose, keep a second dose. This is the plan, unless more vaccines arrive. “He added that” the goal remains the same – to reach five million vaccinated citizens by the end of March 2021. “

The Ministry of Health will re-examine the British model

Alongside all this, the Committee on Corona Vaccines will once again discuss the British model, according to which in order to accelerate the immunization campaign, only one dose can be vaccinated against Corona. Prof. Levy said: “We believe that the vaccine should be given according to what has been tried in studies, in two doses with a gain of 21 days.”

He was joined by Dr. Tal Brosh, an infectious disease specialist and member of the committee, who believes that “it may protect people in the short term, but in a year these people will be infected in Corona. What’s more, in Israel there will be enough vaccines for everyone in the future. “

On the other hand, an infectious disease expert member of the epidemiological team claimed: “The second dose is just a booster, and can be given even after four or five weeks. The vaccine gives a phenomenal protection already after ten days.”

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