A number of directors and senior officials in the health system, headed by the director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Nachman Ash, are calling for the start of a third vaccination for people aged 40 and over as soon as possible, even this week, after receiving the appropriate approvals.
Prof. Ash told Israel Today that he was in favor of immediate approval of a third vaccine for those aged 40 and over, adding that "we will monitor the efficacy and safety data in the coming week, and see if such a decision can be made."
Prof. Hagai Zion, chairman of the Medical Association, who is also among those who support the move, added that "postponing a vaccine for people aged 40 to 50 could cost more lives. A vaccine for people aged 40 and over will also increase protection against the Delta variant among the population, "There is no other way to reduce morbidity except by vaccination, and there is already information about a large number of people who received a third vaccine without abnormalities and even fewer than those who were on the second vaccine."
Photo: Shmuel Buharis
Prof. Yehuda Adler, an expert in internal cardiology and medical administration and a corona consultant to municipal authorities: "The teaching, when the school year opens soon. It sounds very illogical."
Preparing for the school year
Against the background of the decision to allow people aged 50 and over to be vaccinated in a third dose, the vaccination centers were busy over the weekend, with tens of thousands responding to the call.
The HMOs reported multiple responses in scheduling appointments, with Clalit HMOs registering 20,000 vaccinated, Maccabi 15,000, Meuhedet 4,500 and Leumit 1,500.
Vaccination appointments, tonight in Tel Aviv,
Along with the optimism in view of the high rate of vaccinators, the Ministry of Health estimates that next week the daily number of verified will reach ten thousand, and that in the absence of a reversal of the trend in the jump in morbidity, by the end of the month the numbers will only increase.
This week, serological tests will be performed in schools in preparation for the start of the school year.
The Home Front Command and MDA plan to map the population between the ages of 3 and 12, and finish it by September 1 (about two million children in total). The goal is to sample all school children in an attempt to save as much isolation as possible during the school year, When a person is found to be recovering, he or she will receive a green card. A child who has been ill will not have to go into isolation unless a corona test shows that it is necessary.
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz received the third dose of the vaccine at Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba on Tuesday.
"We are at a crucial hour," he said.
"We have an outbreak, it's worrying, and we'm taking all the measures to stop it."
Horowitz called on anyone entitled to be vaccinated to go and do so: "We are in a race against the plague, and our most effective tool is vaccines. We make it available to citizens for free, all over the country and with full accessibility."
Vaccines - also in schools
The current ambition in the Ministry of Health is to reach about one million vaccinated people aged 50 plus within about ten days.
Transport Minister Merav Michaeli was also vaccinated, saying: "We will also fight vaccines in Corona and the Delta. This is also the reason why I insisted that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health, Transparent Health, start actively appointing vaccinations for those who have not been vaccinated or vaccinated."
Meanwhile, after weeks of debates in the government over the issue, it was decided that vaccinations for students would also be given within the walls of schools at the start of the school year, at designated hours - zero hour or after school.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Friday that he had instructed the health funds to double the vaccination rate next week, that is, vaccination 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Moreover, in coordination with Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, it was agreed that the immunization system would be intensified by IDF medics. In a post he published on Saturday night, Bennett addressed the public and wrote: "When will it end? I do not know. More difficult days are expected, but I am sure that if we act in accordance with the plan (National to prevent the spread of the epidemic), and if Israeli citizens wear masks, they will be vaccinated as soon as possible for them, and in general - if we act in solidarity and mutual aid - we will overcome the delta.
"I accept the criticism with understanding. My job is to do what is right to do and not what is easy to do. To close the country - it is very easy, but what is right is to turn every stone - so that the citizens of Israel are healthy, the State of Israel remains open, keep citizens. Israel, on a physical, mental and economic level, will not break down to heat up and will not lose their livelihood - and make the right decisions to do so. "
On Friday, a 52-year-old woman was hospitalized at Ziv Medical Center in Safed, apparently due to an allergic reaction after receiving a third dose of vaccine.
However a test is being done to check other options that have led to her medical condition.
The patient is hospitalized in the intensive care unit, and her condition is difficult but stable.
The Ministry of Health is examining the details of the case, stating that "an allergic reaction to vaccines is a familiar and rare phenomenon. For those who develop an allergic reaction after receiving any dose of the vaccine, it is recommended not to get vaccinated before consulting the attending physician."