About 200,000 appointments have already been made by medical staff and seniors over the age of 60 across Israel to get vaccinated in the coming days and weeks.
"The HMOs are up to the task! The HMOs' preparations resulted in 10,000 vaccinations among medical staff on the first day alone," said Health Minister Yuli Edelstein on Monday. "In the meantime, there are about 200,000 additional appointments. In the coming days we will increase the pace. I call on everyone over the age of 60 - go get vaccinated, this is the only way to fight the coronavirus."
"It is important for me to emphasize – we will vaccinate everyone and there is nothing to worry about," he said. "The campaign is progressing while on the move. With the arrival of the vaccine and the start of the campaign, there is an atmosphere that we are nearing the end, but it is forbidden to enter into complacency, so it is important to continue to follow the regulations."Later on Monday, Edelstein visited Israel's vaccination control center at Ben-Gurion Airport and thanked the medical teams that operate it for their dedicated work. "The rate of administrating vaccines is satisfying," he said during his visit. "We are continuing to vaccinate as if there's no virus and mutation, and fighting the virus as if there're no vaccines," he added.
On Sunday, Health Ministry director-general Prof. Chezy Levy stated that there is a recommendation to vaccinate pregnant women, women after childbirth and women seeking to become pregnant, as well as people who are immunosuppressed and their families.
"Only three weeks ago, no one expected us to start vaccinating the citizens of Israel," said Edelstein on Sunday evening in a meeting with HMOs. The health minister discussed ways to handle the load of calls, as many citizens reported long waiting times to order an appointment for the vaccine.
"I am told: I am at the center for 45 minutes without receiving an answer. This indicates a very large demand and I am sure we will overcome that," added Edelstein.
On Sunday evening, the director-general of Leumit, Haim Fernandez, stated that the HMO has vaccinated hundreds of workers, but that the demand is currently exceeding the supply of vaccines.
The Health Ministry promised that there would be no shortage of vaccines. Some 60 vaccination centers will open across Israel this week.
During a visit to the Leumit HMO in Tel Aviv on Monday, Edelstein met with a 102-year-old and a 91-year-old citizen who were vaccinated by the HMO.
"I am happy to see the first vaccinated among the HMO's customers," said Edelstein. "I met a 102-year-old and a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor who came [anxious] to get the vaccine. I saw the nurses in action. All the appointments are full. I want to thank you for preparing in such a short time."
"I am asking citizens over the age of 60 and with background illnesses to get vaccinated," added the health minister. "With God's help, in a short period of time, millions of people will be vaccinated. We are keeping pace."