After it became known that Pfizer's vaccine would arrive in Israel in January, experts wonder whether Israel is even ready for its arrival.
After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced tonight (Thursday) that Pfizer's corona vaccines are expected to arrive in Israel as early as January, we asked experts for their opinion on the issue, setting priorities in the field and whether the Biological Institute in Ness Ziona should continue developing its vaccine. in so doing.
Prime Minister Netanyahu at the end of the Corona Cabinet, tonight // Photo: Itai Beit On, Sound: Ben Peretz, GPO
Prof. Amos Pent, an expert in biochemistry and molecular biology at the Hebrew University and a member of the committee that accompanies the development of the Biological Institute in Ness Ziona, argues that it is not appropriate to bring a few vaccines to Israel, but to wait for a million doses at a time.
"There are few freezers with such a maintenance of temperatures that are suitable for these vaccines. In fact, it is now a huge preparation to be equipped with such freezers, and it certainly requires organization and orderly operation because there is no infrastructure of such freezers in the country."
Prof Pent added that he opposes bringing in 20,000 vaccines because it would create chaos and quarrels between people over priorities.
"One million doses need to be brought in at once so that it will be enough to vaccinate the medical staff, the elderly and the people with the serious illnesses," he told Israel Today.
"I see no reason to run and cause unnecessary frustration. You should prepare for the vaccine, and then bring a large amount of doses at once."
He estimates that the Biological Institute's vaccine will be ready for maturation as early as this summer.
"It is very worthwhile to promote the institute even after the modern vaccine. We transplant the corona gene on another virus that is not dangerous, and then the body learns to deal with the virus itself through the non-dangerous virus. It is a new method of genetic engineering, and it will be better than 90%, "he said.
"It will be a vaccine with a more advanced method than those of Pfizer and Moderna."
On the other hand, Professor Michal Liniel of the Hebrew University, who is researching corona viruses and has published studies in the field, is careful not to comment on Netanyahu.
"Pfizer has promised all its first vaccinations to countries such as the United States, Britain and other EU countries, so the public must know that at least until the end of this summer there will be no vaccinations in the country for the vast majority of the population," she told Israel Today.
"Unfortunately, in Israel, people run, declare and cut films and are not physically ready - and then a disaster occurs. People will disregard the instructions when there is still no vaccine here, and this situation will cause a great tragedy."
"No HMO in Israel has any way of transporting, storing and maintaining vaccines that need to be kept at a temperature of minus 70 degrees. Israel does not have the capacity to receive the vaccine at all. There will be a situation of struggles and handshakes. "
Prof. Liniel believes that the State of Israel should embark on a huge explanatory campaign in which it will be explained to the public why it would be so important to get vaccinated against the corona - but in her opinion this will not happen due to the functioning of the corona cabinet.
"It has politicians who are many and deal with statements, and make the public their hostage. They took the person in charge of the struggle in Corona, Prof. Roni Gamzo, and 'killed' him. They expelled him, expelled Prof. Itamar Grotto and other senior Ministry of Health officials. "The chief of staff and half of the chief of staff would resign within six months? This is the situation at the moment in the Ministry of Health, and I think this truth should be told to the public."
