The epidemic treatment team this week recommended that the director general of the Ministry of Health start a vaccination campaign against corona among children aged 11-5. This recommendation was given following a US child vaccine, which was approved by the FDA.
Now the most important task of the Ministry of Health is to dispel the natural and understandable fear of parents to vaccinate their children.
The way to do this is through transparency, parental involvement and answering all questions.
One of these questions is why even vaccinate children if in most cases they are mildly ill anyway.
Had a parent been able to know for sure that his child would not get sick in Corona, the decision not to vaccinate him would have made sense.
But in the current reality, where the virus exists in the world and the arrival of new mutations in Israel is only a matter of time - vaccinating children is a necessary step.
It is difficult and even immoral to isolate young children and prevent them from meeting their peers.
Moreover, the damage caused to children as a result of the damage to social ties as a result of isolation, exceeds dozens of times the small risk of the vaccine.
Those who claim that most children are mildly ill, should keep in mind that a small percentage of children are still severely ill.
Such a child is "100 percent" ill, and the fact that it is a rare event does not encourage him or his family.
To date, about 500 11-5 year olds have been severely ill, and more than 100 have developed Post Corona Syndrome (PIMS).
To understand what happens during PIMS, imagine that in your child's small body the immune system acts as an army that attacks with all its power and all the weapons in its possession and causes very severe damage to the body, far beyond the damage caused by the virus.
As parents of children we manage risks all our lives.
The decision to give our children the car key after passing a driving test is not a simple one, and yet - we can not help but allow them to drive.
The decision to send them on a scout trip from a sleeping apartment is out of our sight, and yet - we do not forbid them to go.
Intelligent risk management means making the right decision within the existing circumstances.
We now know that the risk of coronary heart disease is greater than the risk of vaccination, and that vaccinated children are less contagious and contagious.
The side effects of corona are also much more significant than the side effects documented after the vaccine.
Above all, vaccinating our children is an educational step that expresses responsibility towards all Israeli children - including those suffering from chronic diseases - towards our elderly parents and towards society as a whole.
Only when the children are also vaccinated will we be able to lead a safe life alongside the corona with minimal harm to society, education, the economy and the economy.
The author is a deputy director of Sheba Medical Center, a member of the Magen Israel advisory team, and former director general of the Ministry of Health.