The Ministry of Health plans to issue a “green passport” to those who are vaccinated against the corona virus, which will waive the restrictions used to prevent the outbreak of the virus, top officials said in a roundtable interview on Sunday.
Holders said rights include access to cultural events and eating in restaurants and the right not to be isolated after exposing a detected virus-carrier. It is given two weeks after a person gets a second of the two shots required for the corona virus.
Polls suggest that 50 percent and 75% of Israelis refuse to be vaccinated against the corona virus, apparently out of fear that the urgency to produce a vaccine may have compromised its safety. Israel, which is said to be given the first vaccines on Sunday, December 20, is preparing to launch a major vaccination program next week.
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The green passport will help passengers fly aboard without having to be tested for the virus in the first place, as is the current need, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told Channel 13.
Edelstein emphasized that the goal was not to provide a benefit package for vaccinated individuals, but “that those who are not at risk of contracting the corona virus can do things that others who are still at risk for the virus cannot do.” ”
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein gave a press conference on December 13, 2020 at the Corona Virus Vaccine Center in Tel Aviv. (Mark Israel Pet / Flash 90)
“This passport will show that a person has been vaccinated and does not need to be isolated, giving access to all kinds of cultural events, restaurants and many other benefits,” Director General of the Ministry of Health, Ceci Levy, told Channel 12.
Levy estimated that there would be some kind of international vaccination card that would provide benefits to Israelis who have been vaccinated abroad.
Khan, a public broadcaster, said government officials see the possibility of international travel as a major incentive for the public to get vaccinated.
While decision makers are more optimistic than opinion polls about the general preference for vaccination, the Green Passport is believed to provide a strong incentive, and some countries will not allow Israelis to visit, citing Govt-19, citing government officials as saying if they are unable to show that they are vaccinated.
Director General of the Ministry of Health Cessie Levy speaks at a press conference on September 17, 2020 about the corona virus. (Flash 90)
The report said the health ministry would also set up a special command center to deal with misinformation on social media about vaccines.
The operation will have a dedicated social media team and will collaborate with Facebook’s Israeli division and the Internet Ministry of Justice website to remove complex posts. In extreme cases, authorities may consider filing a complaint with the police if the dissemination of information is particularly erroneous and harmful.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government’s top official overseeing the epidemic on Sunday said the start of Israel’s vaccination campaign would be moved from its target date of December 27, starting next Sunday, according to Hebrew media.
“The outcome of the epidemic is in sight. Until then I ask [everyone] The prime minister said this during a visit to a mass immunization center in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu said he would be the first Israeli to receive the corona virus vaccine.
Speaking on Channel 20 Sunday evening, he said, “The risks of not getting vaccinated are much bigger, which is why I will be vaccinated first, and I expect everyone to be vaccinated.”
Khan, the public broadcaster, said he wanted to vaccinate Netanyahu and Edelstein at an event filmed this Saturday or earlier. This could make Netanyahu the first world leader to be vaccinated.
President Ruwen Rivlin, hospital directors and heads of health care organizations across the country were among the first to receive the footage. They will be followed by medical workers, who will be able to receive footage after a week, according to reports.
In addition, Channel 13 News reported that the Office of the Minister of Health is preparing a list of media celebrities and celebrities to be vaccinated on camera as a model for the public.
It said senior health ministry officials had called for an end to efforts to develop an Israeli-made vaccine because “it makes no sense if we vaccinate millions.” [with vaccines already approved] In a few months. ”
The network quoted Ministry of Defense officials – whose biological company is developing the vaccine – as surprised by media reports of the development and argued that there was no reason to remove all the work that had been done.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference on December 13, 2020 at a corona virus vaccination center in Tel Aviv. (Mark Israel Pet / Flash 90)
Earlier on Sunday, coronavirus jar Nachman Ash said health officials were working to move the scheduled date for Israelis to start vaccinating with Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine after US regulators carried out the vaccination. The vaccine has not yet been approved in Israel, but the director of the Ministry of Health has indicated that it could be green-lit in the coming days.
According to Channel 12, the Maccabi Health Care System could start delivering 25,000 vaccines a day next week. Netanyahu has set a target of running 60,000 vaccines a day, which means two million Israelis will be vaccinated by the end of January.
Israel has bought millions of doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, the first batch of which landed at Ben Gurion Airport last Wednesday.
Another flight carrying tens of thousands of vaccines scheduled for this weekend was delayed by a day.
As Israel’s expected approval for the vaccine grows, officials weigh plans to tighten controls – and then back down – as the country’s increasing number of infections.
According to figures released by the Ministry of Health on Sunday evening, 356,826 people have been diagnosed with the corona virus in Israel since the outbreak, up from 1,291 the previous day.
There are 16,801 active virus patients, and 2,996 have died from the infection.