Would you like a vaccine with your purchase? As part of Israel’s vaccination drive, Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Health Ministry are setting up coronavirus vaccination centers in commercial centers around the country.
IKEA has set up vaccination stations in its stores around Israel, with vaccines available to members of all the health funds until Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Vaccines were also being administered in Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda market on Monday, as well as in Big shopping malls in Eilat, Ashdod and Beersheba. Vaccines have also been given in Tel Aviv bars and public squares. In some cases, free food is being offered to anyone who gets the shot.
“Our main goal is to get everyone vaccinated,” a MDA spokesman said. “The idea is that if you won’t come to us, we’ll come to you. We have special pop-up vaccination stations that can be set up quickly almost anywhere.”
A separate initiative spearheaded by Magen David Adom, the Health Ministry, the IDF and the Manufacturers Association is bringing vaccination facilities to large private companies and industrial centers. HP Israel, Osem Nestle, SodaStream, Unilever and Elbit Systems, among others, have arranged for workers to receive the vaccine at their place of work.
Israel continues to administer coronavirus vaccines at the fastest rate in the world. As of Monday morning, some 4.4 million Israelis had received at least the first dose of the vaccine, and nearly three million have received their second dose.
On Sunday, some of the restrictions of the third lockdown were loosened, as malls, markets, museums and libraries were allowed to open for the first time in two months. Hotels, health clubs, swimming pools and cultural venues were also opened for people possessing a vaccination certificate or a “green passport” certifying that they have either recovered from coronavirus or received both doses.
More locations will likely be accessible only to those who are fully protected in the coming months.
Meanwhile, some stores are offering discounts to people with vaccination certificates. The Optica Halperin chain said it would give eyeglass frames worth up to NIS 299 to anyone with a vaccination certificate by February 28.