Vaccine rollout in Israel shows signs of success

As America struggles to deliver vaccine doses due to logistical bottlenecks and supply shortages, the vaccine rollout in Israel is showing signs of dramatic success.

A little over four months ago, the COVID-19 outbreak in Israel was one of the worst in the world and the country entered a strict lockdown. Next, the Israeli government struck a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for doses sufficient to inoculate every Israeli adult by the end of March.

Two months later, the data is as promising as scientists predicted. In one study of 1.2 million people, the 600,000 vaccinated were 94% less likely to contract symptomatic infections.

Prof Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the infectious disease epidemiology unit at Sheba Medical Center, said supplies are regular and the program is working.

“It’s amazing,” he said, adding, “And they’re now lowering the levels, the age at which people can already be vaccinated.”

Just days ago, Israel’s lockdown was eased. It’s a welcome new reality for the nation – and for us, a possible glimpse into the future.

There is also more hope for other countries, as the global immunization effort slowly grows beyond the wealthy developed world. Syrian refugees are now being shot and the first shipments have just arrived in Zimbabwe.