Segev Harel, 26, who was one of the first two volunteers to receive the Israeli vaccine, said that he chose to participate in the experiment to give hope for a blue-and-white vaccine. "" I feel great. The decision to participate in the experiment "
Segev Harel, one of the first two experimenters to receive the corona vaccine developed by the Biological Institute, said today (Sunday) that "like anything in life that has a risk, one should look at the profit - and that is hope for an Israeli vaccine."
The first participant in the Israeli trial, Segev Harel, after receiving the vaccine for Corona
Harel, 26, from Kibbutz Sde Nehemia, is sharing an experiment with Anar Otolengi, 34, from Kibbutz Tlalim.
One of them will receive the vaccine, and the other will receive the placebo vaccine.
The two will remain for 24 hours at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, where they received the vaccine as part of the clinical trial phase, under supervision.
About two hours after he was vaccinated, Harel told the media that he was feeling great and that he did not feel any special symptoms - except for a slight pain in the area where he received the injection, as happens with any vaccine.
"I feel great and joking with the excellent medical staff here. I want to thank the doctors and nurses who have been with me since this morning, and who give me the best feeling possible," he said.
"The fact that I am healthy, young and single without too many worries other than finishing the degree I work for and continuing to make a living, helped me make the decision to participate in the experiment," he added.
"Maybe I'm leading some way here. We need as many people as possible to volunteer."
After receiving the vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and the director of the Biological Institute, Prof. Shmuel Shapira, arrived at the hospital and met with Harel.
During the tour, the prime minister said he had ordered the establishment of a permanent vaccine plant in Israel: "The real way out of the crisis is in developing vaccines. We have a very important day, a day that gives us a shot of encouragement. At the same time, pharma companies and the Ministry of Health are working to bring vaccines."
The director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Hezi Levy, referred this morning to the start of the experiment with the vaccine, saying that there is great hope in cracking the Israeli vaccine: "It is clear to all of us that there is currently no treatment for the disease.
All over the world experiments are being done by some companies that are in the second or third stage.
We have high hopes even though we know how long it will take to produce a safe and effective vaccine that will be sufficient for the residents of the State of Israel. "