Israel has given two doses of COVID-19 vaccine to more than half of its population of 9.3 million, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said Thursday, a rapid release that helped the country emerge from a pandemic closure.
Pfizer Inc vaccine circulation in Israel began in December, with eligibility extended to citizens and residents over the age of 16. Those who receive it are fully protected a week after the second sight.
In a statement announcing the milestone amid a continuing decline in new COVID-19 cases, Edelstein called on citizens to “follow (health) guidelines so that the coronavirus does not return”.
Israel counts East Jerusalem Palestinians as part of their population and has been vaccinating them. It has also offered vaccines to Palestinians working in Israel and settlements in the West Bank.
Palestinian health officials have launched a limited vaccination program in the West Bank and Gaza using doses given by Israel, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and the global campaign for COVAX vaccination.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health reported Thursday morning, 470 new coronavirus cases had been diagnosed the day before, with the disease rate standing at 1%. The ministry said 45,007 COVID tests were conducted on Wednesday.
At least 482 patients are in poor condition, of which 189 are ventilated.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Israel in March last year, 6,157 people have lost their lives to the plague.