Jerusalem, Israel (February 11, 2021) — A highly centralized heath care system has allowed Israel to vaccinate large swaths of the country, including entire populations of the most vulnerable. Those living in nursing homes, assisted living and the disabled were given top priority, as well as those 60 years old and older, with special needs, and limited mobility. Special emphasis is currently being placed on vaccinating residents living in small and remote communities, as well as foreigners with no legal status in Israel, foreign diplomats and foreign students.
Over five million initial vaccinations (some estimates as high as 5.8 million vaccinations provided to date) have been administered at a variety of vaccination hubs around the country, run by the Health Ministry, the Army, the four HMOs and one by Magen David Adom, the age limit has already come down to 55 and then to 50, 45, 40, and now all the way to every Israeli 16 and older.
Of these, more than two million (2.2MM) received the second vaccine and are entitled to receive a “Vaccination Certificate,” also known colloquially as a “green passport.”
MDA alone has vaccinated 340,000, or roughly 6% of 5.8 million. And more importantly, nearly one-quarter (23.3%) have the two doses, the so-called “green passports.”
Meanwhile, in the cases of people referred to as those “left behind” in Hebrew, an unfortunate phrase and statement, since the Ministry of Health’s clear policy, supported by the HMOs, is to take the outmost effort, with the help of the local municipalities and volunteer organizations, including MDA, meaning they have no transport and/or suffer from the challenge caused by restricted logistical instruction of the vaccine, these people who are confined to their homes, due to mobility difficulties, are being taken by MDA ambulances and local volunteer organizations from their respective homes to the various HMOs or other community vaccine sites for vaccination.
And among these so-called “home confined” people, 70% are already been vaccinated, thanks to the efforts of the HMOs, local councils, MDA and additional volunteer organizations.
Special efforts are also being made among the Charedi ultra-Orthodox and Israeli-Arab populations, as well.
