This week, Israel’s national emergency medical service, Magen David Adom (MDA), completed the first round of Covid-19 vaccinations in all elderly care facilities and sheltered accommodation. Israel is now the first country in the world to vaccinate all elderly care facilities in the first phase.
Over a period of ten days, MDA administered the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine to around 150,000 residents and employees in these facilities.
As part of the Israeli Health Ministry’s Avot v’Imahot (Fathers and Mothers Shield) programme, MDA teams were trained on how to administer vaccines quickly, effectively and professionally.
On completing the first vaccination drive, MDA Director General Eli Bin said: “This is an important day when the elderly, parents, grandparents of all of us who are in a high-risk group and a top priority in terms of vaccination received the first vaccine and are about to receive the second vaccine. And within ten days [we] will be vaccinated and protected”.
“Israel is at the forefront of the vaccinating countries and a leader in the field all over the world. And I sincerely hope that soon the vaccination effort will expand to the entire population and with its help, together we will defeat the coronavirus and return to our daily routine”, he added.
The second round of vaccinations will begin next week.
