Covid vaccine: Netanyahu gets coronavirus jab, starting Israel rollout

The vaccine will be rolled out at 10 hospitals and vaccination centres around Israel for healthcare workers from Sunday.
Ramat Gan, Israel, Dec 19, 2020 (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a Covid-19 vaccine jab on Saturday, kicking off a national rollout over the coming days.
Netanyahu, 71, and Israel’s health minister were injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine live on TV at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.
“I asked to be vaccinated first, together with Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, to serve as personal examples and encourage you to be vaccinated,” Netanyahu told the television audience.
They must each receive a booster shot in three weeks for optimal protection from the novel coronavirus.
United States Vice President Mike Pence got the jab live on television Friday, while President-elect Joe Biden is set to receive his shot on Monday.
President Trump has made it clear he is not planning to take the vaccine imminently, citing the belief that his recovery from a brief but severe bout of Covid-19 has given him immunity.
Latest Israeli health ministry figures reported over 370,000 people had tested positive for the virus since the Jewish state confirmed its first case in February.
Just over 3,000 people have died, in a country of around 9 million.
The vaccine will be rolled out at 10 hospitals and vaccination centres around Israel for healthcare workers from Sunday, according to the health ministry.
During the course of the week, a ministry statement said, vaccinations will be extended to the general public, starting with those over 60 years of age.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 19, 2020
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
Unity key to overcome challenges: Sheikh Nahyan
In his keynote speech, Sheikh Nahyan said the spirit of human... READ MORE
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
Cancer is still the big C, not Covid: UAE doctors
Cancer is a bigger epidemic than Covid-19 globally if we analyse the... READ MORE
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
Covid vaccine: 90% of Ajman Police employees get...
The vaccine drive was part of the social responsibility in solidarity ... READ MORE
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
Covid-19: Dubai shuts 4 shisha cafes, other...
Residents have been asked to report any non-compliance with Covid... READ MORE
-
News
UAE fights Covid: Dubai remains top choice for...
UAE has one of the most effective Covid-19 test and trace programmes. READ MORE
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
UAE-India travel: State-wise Covid, quarantine...
Here are the travel rules to some of the states that are mostly... READ MORE
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
Some UAE Covid patients suffer symptoms for months
One of the manifestations of even milder Covid infections can include ... READ MORE
-
Coronavirus Pandemic
Global Covid cases rise for first time in 7 weeks,...
"The rise was disappointing and urged countries not to relax measures ... READ MORE




Nation (videos)
Watch: How Simulation Training can prepare pilots for real-life scenarios