Prof. Mendelssohn was the first to receive a sample of the corona virus in Israel • Her grandson Segev is one of the first two experimenters to receive the Israeli vaccine
Closing the circle: The
experimenter Segev Harel (26), who was one of the first two experimenters to receive the Israeli corona vaccine at Sheba Hospital, is the grandson of Prof. Ella Mendelssohn, director of the Central Laboratory for Viruses of the Ministry of Health in Tel Hashomer.
Prof. Mendelssohn was the first to receive a sample of the corona virus in order to prepare Israel's laboratory capabilities, and was the first to receive a "positive for the corona" answer in Israel in a sample taken from the first patient in the country, traveling from the "corona ship".
"I laughed that I've been working behind the scenes for 30 years and know nothing about my work, and he made a sensational leap and became famous overnight," says the proud grandmother.
"The act he did is beautiful and dignified. He consulted with me, said he wanted to sign up and asked what I thought. I would not let him go into the experiment if I did not think the level of risk is low and that it is important. You imagine I checked with the doctors and who needs all the details," she said. Says, "If I were his age, obviously I would have volunteered for the experiment, too."
The work with the members of the Biological Institute is shared by Prof. Mendelssohn and her grandson: "I know the people of the institute from many years of working together. They are serious scientists and do a very good job, and have saved the people of Israel more than twice. We did quality control. And I know them personally as good and serious scientists.
"It's kind of an exciting closing circle. When we were the first to develop the kit for Corona and did the first test, no one imagined we'd done so many tests since, because we thought that like the swine flu - the scenario would be to develop a vaccine. At a certain point, it was clear that he would not get rid of the virus except with the help of a vaccine; and my grandson is the Nachshon, and many will follow. "