Israel’s rapid coronavirus vaccination campaign seemed to suggest a slowdown Tuesday as the country’s second-largest HMO announced it was suspending delivery of the first dose from next week.
Maccabi Healthcare Services said it will not make new meetings for virus vaccines beyond January 16 until supply is replenished. Israel is expected to receive further shipments of the Pfizer vaccine in February and the Moderna vaccine sometime in March.
Maccabi HMO coronavirus vaccination center
(Photo: EPA)
“Those who did not prescribe before January 16 will not be able to receive further vaccinations with the first dose until others reach Israel,” Drs. Angela Urbani, Maccabi ‘s Sharon district commander, told Ynet.
The HMO said they have enough supplies to give the second dose to those who received the first injection.
Shortly afterwards, Clalit HMO also said that they have stopped the delivery of the first dose of coronavirus vaccine until they have an increased supply.
U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc said Monday that Israeli health authorities had approved their COVID-19 vaccine, marking the vaccine’s third regulatory authority in the world and the first outside North America.
Ichilov Hospital vaccination campaign at Rabin Square
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, however, tried to cool the public’s enthusiasm, saying the authorization does not mean the planned mass transfer from the drug dealer will arrive faster, although Moderna ready to dispense 100,000 doses sometime next week.
Meuhedet HMO also said they are running out of supply, while Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, which conducted an unprotected vaccination campaign in Rabin Square for teachers, has stopped the inoculations due to lack of supply.