Israel’s coronavirus vaccination rate has slowed, leading the Health Ministry to open up the nationwide inoculation operation to all ages over 16, even though a significant number of the at-risk 60-plus population has yet to receive a jab. One of the main reasons for the vaccination slowdown is a fearmongering campaign mounted by vaccination opponents, mostly targeting the ultra-Orthodox, Arab and Bedouin minorities.
Israel has led the world in vaccinating its residents by virtue of exclusive agreements with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology pioneers Pfizer and Moderna. Reportedly, the contracts promised as many doses as Israel needs in the fastest possible time — in return for real time data about their effects on the inoculated population. As of Feb. 7, more than 3.3 million Israelis — 37% of the population — had received the first dose and over 2 million the second shot, making them almost completely immune to the virus, at least in its original version. In addition, almost 700,000 Israelis are known to have contracted the virus, meaning they have developed a natural immunity to it.
