Get a short URL
The mass vaccination against COVID-19 began in Israel in late December, with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin receiving the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine. About a million Israelis have been inoculated with the vaccine so far.
Among those vaccinated against coronavirus in Israel are 240 people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 shortly after being inoculated, reported Canal 13 News.
As the Pfizer vaccine takes time to develop antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and requires the injection of two doses of the inoculation, the second being administered 21 days after the first, there is still a risk of contracting COVID-19. It is also worth noting that if a person was infected before vaccination, they may still be at risk of developing symptoms of COVID, even after the injection.
In addition, there are concerns that people with immunity may carry the virus and spread it, because it is not yet clear whether the mucous layers are out of the reach of antibodies and whether they may contain viral particles even after a person is vaccinated.
According to government data, the majority of those who received the coronavirus vaccines reported no side effects, although some people sought medical attention for weakness, dizziness, fever and diarrhea, allegedly caused by the vaccination. The Israeli Ministry of Health has also reported cases of people who have suffered allergic reactions and developed neurological symptoms after receiving the vaccines.
Earlier this week, Israeli media reported that there were four cases in which people died after being vaccinated. Three deaths have been proven unrelated to vaccination, while the fourth case is still being investigated.
Israel vaccinated about one million people against COVID-19, which represents more than 10% of its 9.2 million residents, the government said on January 1.
AMIR COHEN
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives coronavirus vaccine (COVID-19) at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, December 19, 2020. REUTERS / Amir Cohen / Pool
On December 20, Israel officially started mass vaccination against COVID-19 after the country approved the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine. Priority groups to be inoculated include medical workers, medical school students, employees of geriatric institutions and government officials. The day before vaccinations started, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became the first person in Israel to receive the coronavirus vaccine. He had the photo in front of TV cameras, promising to make Israel the first country in the world to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, Israel also has a vaccine purchase agreement with the American company Moderna. It was also reported that Hadassah Medical Center, based in Jerusalem, had ordered 1.5 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine and was awaiting approval by the Ministry of Health for its use.