Israel allocates NIS 86m. for coronavirus vaccine development
This allocation aims at funding the pilot program scheduled to begin after the High Holy Days.
By SARAH CHEMLAFinance Minister Israel Katz at a meeting of the Finance Committee, July 20, 2020(photo credit: ADINA WALLMAN/KNESSET SPOKESWOMAN)
The Finance and Defense ministries will allocate NIS 86 million to help the Israel Institute for Biological Research develop a coronavirus vaccine, they announced Thursday.The funding is for a pilot program scheduled to begin in late September after the High Holy Days.“As part of the tremendous efforts I am making for the benefit of the Israeli economy, and due to the enormous importance of returning the economy and life to a healthy and robust routine, we agreed today to allocate NIS 86m. to the Institute for Biological Research to advance the coronavirus vaccine,” Finance Minister Israel Katz said.“I will continue to work for the citizens of Israel and the development of the economy and enable the continued work of the Biological Institute so that they can advance in the development of the vaccine,” he said.Defense Minister Benny Gantz said: “The Biological Institute is currently engaged in a life-saving national mission, and it is our duty to provide it with the means to do so.”
חובתנו לאפשר למכון הביולוגי להמשיך ולעסוק במשימה הלאומית להצלת חיים. סיכמתי יחד עם שר האוצר על הקצאת 86 מיליון שקלים עבור חיזוק פעילות המכון הביולוגי לטובת פיתוח לחיסון לקורונה. נמשיך ללוות את התהליך מקרוב ונתמוך בו ביחד עם כל הגורמים בממשלה ובשיתוף פעולה מלא עם משרד הבריאות.
“In the institute’s plans, we will continue to monitor the process closely and support it together with all parties in the government and in full cooperation with the Health Ministry,” he said.
