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One hundred thousand Israelis who received their first COVID-19 vaccine did not return for the second dose, according to a report on Saturday.
Ministry officials cited by Channel 12 attributed the reluctance to get the second vaccine to two factors: suspicion of side effects after the first dose and misinformation about the vaccines.
The network said health workers were among those who received a first dose but did not return for the second, but at a lower percentage than the general population.
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According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health, 5,128,212 Israelis have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The 100,000 people who would not have received a second dose represent just under 2% of this group.
The number of people who received both vaccines was 4,128,807.
An Israeli receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit vaccination center in Jerusalem on March 11, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
Citing the vaccination rate and the continuing decline in morbidity, the health ministry said on Saturday it would allow more visitors to health and wellness facilities.
A ministry statement said residents of these facilities – which include geriatric hospitals, rehabilitation centers and a hostel for Holocaust survivors – will now be allowed to accommodate two additional visitors. Visitors must be vaccinated, under the age of 16, or have recovered from COVID-19.
Also on Saturday, Hebrew media said that of the roughly 1,000 Israelis currently hospitalized in coronavirus wards, less than 10% had been fully immunized.
None of the patients currently hooked up to an ECMO machine, which treats severe cases, have been fully vaccinated, according to reports, based on figures from the Department of Health.
The health ministry said on Saturday evening that 2,386 new cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed on Friday and 409 on Saturday, bringing the number of infections in Israel to 817,680 since the start of the pandemic.
The death toll climbed to 5,988, with 12 deaths recorded on Friday.
Israelis take advantage of Tel Aviv beach on March 13, 2021 (Avshalom Sassoni / Flash90)
The number of active cases stood at 35,593, with 626 people in serious condition, including 214 on ventilators.
Of the 84,286 tests carried out on Friday, 2.9% came back positive.
Recent morbidity figures represent a dramatic improvement over the past two months, mainly attributed to the success of the vaccination campaign. Success comes despite the proliferation of more infectious viral variants and the gradual lifting of viral restrictions.
Health officials have expressed optimism that Israel is turning the corner of the pandemic, with officials quoted by Channel 13 on Thursday as saying the situation was “the most encouraging since the start of the pandemic” in the year. last.
Officials said that if the positive trajectory continues, Israelis will be able to celebrate Passover without limits at the end of March.
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