Israel is slowing supply and speed in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in hopes of meeting a late-January goal of full protection for its most vulnerable people, officials said Thursday.
After starting the vaccinations in December. 19, Israel now administers more than 150,000 doses per day. The top priority is a quarter of its 9 million population over the age of 60, suffering from dangerous health problems or who are medical workers.
Woman receiving the coronavirus vaccine at a medical center in Jerusalem
(Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Some other fortunate citizens have been vaccinated, witnesses and officials at Israel’s top health providers say – often as clinic “walkers” who received an extra injection that needed to be thrown at leave at the end of the day.
But the Ministry of Health is closely matching materials. That means pushing back against public expectations that the campaign could soon be open to all adults or the criteria at risk extended to groups such as teachers to introduce.
In early January there will be a “compliance” of about two weeks in the administration of first doses, the ministry of DG Prof. Hezi Levi said, to ensure those who have already received the injection receive a recorded continuous increase.
Ministry of Health DG Prof. Chezi Tax
(Photo: Ido Erez)
“We are doing everything in our power to advance supply” of Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc vaccines that could expand the campaign by February, he told Kan radio, adding say the age threshold could go down to 50.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel in February will be the first country to “emerge” from the health crisis, thanks to the vaccines, adding that it will receive enough doses for its health. all other groups within weeks. It was not clear how this could be caused by a global shortage.
One official from the Ministry of Health, Yaron Niv, said in a separate interview with Kan that each dose cost the country $ 62.
It was unclear to what extent the difference with the EU agreement could pay 15.50 euros per dose for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, due to high consumption in Israel. Another thing, Israel is emphasizing thrush.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein
(Photo: yoavian bird)
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told reporters that an Israeli company had safely dismantled the frozen Pfizer vaccine tariffs so that smaller lumps could be melted down and used.
He also said that another transport from Pfizer is expected in the next two weeks, with passengers expected to arrive from Moderna by March.
Some health providers have been dispensing six, instead of the five advertised doses from each Pfizer vial, an official said.