In the video: Dr. Elray Price demands data from the Ministry of Education on verified children (Photo: Ministry of Education)
As winter approaches, and in light of the feeling that there is an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, serious questions arise regarding the Ministry of Health's preparedness for dealing with the virus in the winter. The health system views with concern the Ministry's lack of preparedness, especially with regard to the stockpile of vaccines and the definition of populations eligible to receive them.
The Ministry of Health does not know how to monitor the exact number of people infected with the virus, because for more than six months there has been no obligation to test infected patients. Hospitals have not seen an increase in the number of coronavirus patients, so for the time being, even if there is an increase in infection, it is not fatal.
The Ministry of Health's Immunization Advisory Committee recently convened last March, when it recommended administering an additional booster vaccine against COVID-19 in the fall, in parallel with the flu vaccines, with the focus on at-risk populations that have been vaccinated in the past. Since then, however, the committee has not convened again, and no decision has been made by the ministry on whether to accept the recommendation and order it to the general public.
"It can't be that until this moment there is not enough preparation for winter." Corona Department at Barzilai Hospital (Photo: Shai Makhlouf)
If it is not enough that no decision has been made, the Ministry has not yet purchased sufficient stocks for the coronavirus vaccines, with almost all variants in Israel being from the XBB family. Autumn vaccinations in Israel begin in October, less than two months from now, but the Ministry of Health has not purchased the vaccines despite the recommendation of the advisory committee and no clear decision has been made on who is eligible to receive the booster and under what conditions.
A senior health official told Walla!: "We were able to deal with the coronavirus thanks to the vaccines. It cannot be that until this moment there is insufficient preparation for the coming winter." He said: "The committee gave its recommendation, but the Health Ministry needs to prepare according to developments and make sure that everything is ready for the coming winter."
The ministry has not yet decided on vaccinating children, especially children who have been infected in the past. This is in contrast to the clear recommendation to vaccinate children with the flu vaccine for the coming winter. At the same time, last weekend, four premature babies tested positive for COVID-19 at her home in Ichilov Hospital. One of the premature babies required respiratory support and his condition is light and stable. The other three are doing well.
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"There is no suspicion of a variant that could change morbidity patterns." Omicron vaccine (Photo: Reuven Castro)
The Ministry of Health said in response: "There is no evidence at this stage of an increase in morbidity in Israel. It is important to emphasize that there is a decline in the number of tests performed, but the rate of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is also low and stable, so there is no suspicion that there is an unusual wave of morbidity these days. The Ministry of Health's monitoring of coronavirus variants around the world has no evidence of a variant that could significantly change morbidity patterns. The ministry continues to monitor the issue. There is a recommendation by the TSA from the previous winter season to prepare for seasonal vaccination against COVID-19, and an additional discussion on this issue is planned. The procurement of the vaccines is carried out with the vaccine manufacturers, regardless of the procurement of flu vaccines, and it will continue to be carried out this winter as well."
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