“Education must be our top priority,” Blue and White leader and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said. “After we have ensured that the teachers are vaccinated, we must make sure that the youth can attend their exams and return to the school framework as soon as possible.”
Teens began arriving Saturday night with one of their parents at local health funds to get vaccinated. They were asked to bring with them their health fund and national ID cards.
Going forward, students will be inoculated by appointment only.
If a parent cannot accompany them then they must bring a signed letter including ID number and a parent’s signature. Those over the age of 18 do not require a parent chaperon.
Although children under the age of 10 tend to infect and get infected less than adults, older children are equally as prone to contracting the virus.
The inoculation of teens is made possible because of Israel’s operation “Give a Shoulder,” the rapid and expanded vaccination campaign aimed at getting more than five million Israelis protected against coronavirus by the end of March.
The health funds will receive an influx of additional doses in order to make the campaign possible. Teenagers do not need to be in school to be eligible to get inoculated.
On average, Israel is vaccinating more than 200,000 people per day at hundreds of vaccination complexes throughout the country and some hospitals. As of Saturday night, 2,492,196 Israelis had received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Of those, 939,827 have had both doses.
Last week, the Education Ministry announced that changes would be made in the format of the country’s matriculation exams to allow students who have been learning from home for most of the year increased chances for success. For example, testing times are going to be increased by 25%, among other changes.
Regardless of any extended lockdown, the Education Ministry said that students in grades 11 and 12 will be allowed to attend their matriculation exams.