Coronavirus vaccination: Over 8 million doses administered in Israel
The fund’s general immunization rate is 74% of its members over the age of 16, it said.
By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMANA coronavirus vaccine dose is seen being administered at a Meuhedet vaccination center in Jerusalem, on February 16, 2021.(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
More than eight million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Israel, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said on Sunday morning.It takes two doses to be fully vaccinated. Of the eight million doses, more than three million were second doses, meaning more than three million Israelis are fully vaccinated.Specifically, 4,687,114 have had at least one jab and 3,320,355 have had their second dose, too.At the same time, Maccabi Health Services announced that it reached the Health Ministry’s goal of inoculating 90% of clients 50 years old and older. It is the first fund to reach this target.The fund’s general immunization rate is 74% of its members over the age of 16, it said.The data also showed that Maccabi is leading by a large margin with 625 of clients ages 16-18 who have been inoculated.Finally, it showed that 51% of pregnant women who belong to the fund have chosen to get vaccinated.The Health Ministry reported that as of Saturday morning, some 39 pregnant or new mothers were hospitalized with the virus, 10 of them in critical condition.“Despite the high immunization rate, we cannot rest for a moment and will continue to make every effort to persuade more and more members to get vaccinated,” said Sigal Dadon Levi, an executive manager at the fund. “We call on anyone who is still afraid of the vaccine to contact the medical staff at their nearest convenience and receive complete and comprehensive answers to all their questions.”Edelstein expressed pride in the eight million vaccines that have been administered but said “this is not enough for a reality of violations, meetings and parties. We must hold back. We can reach the end of the battle."
The high vaccination rate has led some people to break Health Ministry regulations, especially on the Purim holiday. On Saturday a mass gathering of thousands of people took place in the Jaffa Flea Market. On Sunday, Shushan Purim, hundreds gathered in City Center for a similar experience - many of them without masks.
