As the country is already leading the world in the speed of vaccinating its population, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced another breakthrough in the global vaccination race.
In a Joint Press conference with health officials, he vows to have all adult citizens vaccinated by the end of March. “On Pesach eve, we will all celebrate with no restrictions,” he promised.
The sped-up operation – dubbed by the PM as ‘Operation Return to Life,’ results from a collaboration agreement with the drug maker Pfizer. The deal will allow obtaining additional Pfizer vaccines in large quantities. “The first plane will come on Sunday, and there will be more, consecutively,” the shipments will be sufficient for the entire population aged 16 and over.
“We will become the first country to get out of the coronavirus,” says Netanyahu adding that under the agreement with Pfizer, Isreal will serve as a “model country” by sharing statistical data on the vaccine’s effectiveness. While short on the specifics of the agreement, when asked what has changed tonight, “everything has changed through Operation Return to Life, Everything,” he responded.
Netanyahu also referred to the third nationwide lockdown that takes effect tonight at midnight. “We must not forget that the plague is raging,” urging all Israelis to adhere to the lockdown rules.
The announcement was made in a joint press conference with Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, who added: “Today I am especially proud to be the Minister of Health. Just think about it: the State of Israel is the first country in the world where almost eighteen percent of its citizens have been vaccinated.
