Director General of the Ministry of Health on the delay in approving vaccines: "The demand for Pfizer and Modern vaccines is rising, but there are countries that are advancing ahead of us" • "It is necessary to buy now"
In recent days, the Ministry of Health has received a warning letter from one of the companies, according to which Israel received equipment and vaccines without paying for them, because these are vaccines "at the expense" of the purchase agreement that has not yet been approved.
Prof. Hezi Levy: "We may also store children in schools" // Photo: GPO
"Vaccine manufacturers express displeasure that Israel has not yet signed the procurement agreements, pressures that we move forward in negotiations, and other countries are advancing in line before us," Health Ministry Director General Prof. Hezi Levy told Israel Today in the wake of the government's approval of procurement Vaccines. "The government's decision on the matter is very urgent and critical.
The procurement is for, 2022 and this is to reserve our place in the queue, and not to be last.
"As in July 2020, we bought vaccines for 2021 - it is necessary to buy now," he said.
"Regarding the children's vaccines, there are different scenarios," the director general of the Ministry of Health noted, saying that at the moment the stock is sufficient to end the vaccination campaign of those who have not yet been vaccinated.
Prof. Levy added: "I assume that global pressure will increase. More countries are seeing the power of vaccines, and demand is rising. With another technology, it will increase even more, and the competition to purchase them will increase. "
In the report of the Intelligence Division (Corona War Knowledge Center), the authors highlighted the issue of the shortage of vaccines in the world: “Morbidity in many European countries is on the rise, as is India and South America.
Against this background, the vaccine crisis in Europe and the rest of the world (a slow vaccination rate alongside fears of astrazena vaccines) creates pressure to purchase vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, after being found to be extremely effective and safe.
To our understanding, a delay in the completion of the purchase of follow-up vaccines from Pfizer for Israel may impair our ability to preserve the impressive achievements of these vaccines in Israel. "
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Israel Katz will meet today with representatives of Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, Hod Betzer, and Tourism Minister Orit Farkash HaCohen. Katz will present them with the economic justification for purchasing the vaccines and related expenses.
According to the agenda of the cabinet meeting, the issue of purchasing vaccines is not expected to come up for discussion.
However, in the event that Ganz's representatives are convinced of the necessity of the move and its costs, it is possible that in the end the issue of procurement will indeed be put to a vote at tonight's cabinet meeting.