Israel will begin its coronavirus vaccination campaign Saturday night with reports showing that the Jewish state could be the first country in the world to vaccinate the endangered populations.
The first Israeli to receive the vaccine is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed by Health Minister Yuli Edelstein. They will be admitted Saturday afternoon at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv. Netanyahu is 71 and Edelstein is 62.
The event, which will be broadcast live, aims to “encourage the Israeli public to get vaccinated,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, noting that Netanyahu will thus be one of the first leaders in the country. world that has received the vaccine. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Congresspeople began receiving the vaccine Friday.
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President Reuven Rivlin will receive the vaccine on Sunday when the country begins vaccinating health workers. From Monday, veterans and at-risk groups can get vaccinated at health maintenance organizations (HMOs) with a doctor’s prescription.
Both Channels 12 and 13 reported that Israel was likely to be one of the first countries in the world, if not the first, to complete the vaccination of endangered populations.
A nurse seen during a simulated vaccine against the COVID-19 virus, at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem on 17 December 2020 (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
This was due to Israel’s relatively small population, in contrast to the high ratio of per-capita vaccines he has already received and will receive soon, the reports said.
“As soon as Israel vaccinates the medical staff and the population at risk it can start treating COVID as the flu with PR problem,” Channel 12 reporter Dana Weiss said.
Edelstein told Channel 12 that the speed of vaccinations would depend on public demand, but estimated that Israel could complete the first round of vaccines at risk “in about two weeks.”
They then had to return for a second sight after 21 days, meaning Israel could vaccinate the endangered groups by the end of January. But, officially, Israel aims to complete the endangered campaign by March, Channel 12 said, which would alleviate supply and public trust problems.
“If the vaccination of the endangered population progresses at a good pace, we will not wait for the last one to receive the vaccine before it is made available to the general public,” said Edelstein.
However, this also depended on the public’s willingness to be vaccinated.
A nurse is discharged during a similar vaccination against a coronavirus vaccine, at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital on 10 December 2020. (Miriam Alster / FLASH90)
An opinion poll released Friday showed that 63% of Israelis expect to receive a vaccine for the coronavirus, with the highest numbers among the elderly.
The poll in Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper found that 24% expect to be vaccinated immediately and 39% will receive “the vaccine, but wait a while.”
Among those over 65, 50% said they expect to be vaccinated immediately and 32% said they would “probably get the vaccine, but wait a while.”
Edelstein told Channel 12 on Friday that he hoped that as more people became more exposed to the vaccine, public confidence in the vaccine would grow.
“I’m not worried (about getting the vaccine), it was checked by all the necessary organizations. I wouldn’t ask someone to do something I’m not willing to do myself, “he said.
Edelstein said the current plan was for HMOs to vaccinate around 60,000 people a day, but said they were willing to do even more if there was a demand, meaning two million Israelis could to be vaccinated by the end of January.
“We want to reach millions but it depends on the will of the public,” he said, urging the public not to be “any showcase” for careers.
On Sunday vaccinations will be given to hospital staff, followed by staff of HMOs, private health clinics, and dental offices; medical and nursing students participating in clinical visits; members of Magen David Adom and other ambulance services; and residents and carers of old living homes.
HMOs began Thursday afternoon alerting Israelis over 60 and at risk that they can schedule appointments to get vaccinated starting Monday, a day after the country began providing coronavirus shots for facial health workers.
HMO members Maccabi and Meuhedet were able to book meetings starting Thursday. Clalit will open reserved places on Friday and Leumit will do so on Sunday.
Each patient will have two roles, 21 days apart, and the vaccine will only be considered after the second dose.
Maccabi, Meuhedet and Clalit will begin vaccinating the public on Monday, two days ahead of the debut. Leumit will continue Wednesday as previously planned.
The Maccabi website collapsed Thursday shortly after it opened stores to the public, confirming the high demand for at-risk Israelis.
According to the Ynet news site, participants can get those at risk from the vaccine, even if they themselves do not meet any of the requirements.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein will visit the Teva Pharmaceuticals logistics center in Shoham, where coronavirus vaccines would be stored in freezers and then dispensed, November 26, 2020. ( Yossi Aloni / Flash90)
Some people will generally start getting the vaccine on Monday or Wednesday, including those in at – risk groups and anyone over 60.
Next Israelis work in high-risk jobs exposed to the virus, such as teachers, social workers, first responders, and prison workers (prisoners are also given priority); and Israeli Defense Forces soldiers and other security guards.
The rest of the population will eventually arrive, with a timeline based on how many doses Israel will reach and the level of demand from the priority groups.
Along with around four million doses from Pfizer expected to arrive by the end of the month, Channel 12 said Wednesday that a further four million doses were expected by the end of March for a total of eight million doses – enough for four million person to be vaccinated. The population of Israel is approximately 9.25 million.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein will be present at a DHL cargo plane carrying the first batch of Pfizer vaccines at Ben Gurion Airport on December 9, 2020. (Mark Israel Sellem / Pool)
The network said the Moderna vaccine, which could receive emergency approval from U.S. regulators within days, as well as a vaccine issued by AstraZeneca, is not expected to reach Israel earlier than April.
The vaccination campaign is coming as the government has been said to be reducing new restrictions on the public, given the rise in disease numbers.
Israel is embroiled in a sharp rise in new COVID-19 cases, with infections going up to nearly 3,000 on Tuesday and Wednesday, the highest case loads in more than two months.
The criterion set by the government for restoring restrictions is an average of 2,500 cases per day over an entire week or a basic reproduction number of over 1.32. That figure was at 1.27 last week, according to the Ministry of Health. Any value over one means that the rate of virus infection is increasing.