By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Israeli PM Netanyahu receives COVID-19 vaccine
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
Entertainment

Israeli PM Netanyahu receives COVID-19 vaccine

Agency Report with Okay.ng
By Agency Report with Okay.ng
Published: December 19, 2020
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

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.

Each recipient must receive a booster shot in three weeks for optimal protection from the novel coronavirus.

- Advertisement -

Latest Israeli health ministry figures reported over 370,000 people had tested positive for the virus since the Jewish state, a country of around nine million, confirmed its first case in February.

Just over 3,000 people have died.

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 aged over 60.

- Advertisement -

Netanyahu spent Monday to Friday in self-isolation after coming into contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient, despite testing negative for the virus on Sunday and again on Monday.

Ten days ago, he was at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport to welcome a first batch of the vaccine.

The shipment was the first of eight million doses Israel has ordered from US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

The vaccine needs to be stored at the ultra-low temperature of -70 degrees Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit), posing handling and storage challenges.

Other countries have begun rolling out the vaccine already.

Britain started inoculating its citizens with the same vaccine on December 8.

It has since been approved by the United States, Canada and, on Saturday, Switzerland.

US 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 Donald 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.

Israel has also contracted to buy six million Covid-19 vaccine doses from US biotech firm Moderna, which are expected to be delivered in 2021, giving a total of 14 million shots.

Hug for grandma

Israel imposed a second nationwide lockdown in September, when the country had one of the world’s highest per capita infection rates.

Restrictions have since been gradually eased, but case numbers are again on the rise, with a further clampdown predicted.

Netanyahu said receiving the vaccine was a first step toward a return to normality.

“On the way here I thought about the children worried about their parents, the grandchildren who want to hug grandma and grandpa — not a Zoom hug but a real hug,” he said.

“We will be able to go to football grounds, to see basketball games and, of course, to reopen the country and restore it to what it was, to go back to the normal life that we desire.”

The Palestinian territories have also seen a spike in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.

On Thursday, the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority announced stricter restrictions, including the closure of schools and universities, for two weeks to combat the virus’ spread.

Last week, PA president Mahmud Abbas announced that Christmas mass in Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, would be closed to the public this year due to the pandemic.

The Israeli-occupied West Bank, with a Palestinian population of more than 2.8 million, has officially recorded over 88,000 coronavirus infections, including 869 deaths, according to the Palestinian health ministry’s Saturday update.

In the Gaza Strip, with around two million inhabitants, there have been over 33,000 cases, with 248 deaths.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has said that Israel might provide vaccinations for Palestinians once it has vaccinated its own priority groups, such as frontline health providers.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:Benjamin NetanyahuIsrael
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Babajide Sanwo-Olu COVID-19 second wave: Lagos can’t afford another total lockdown – Sanwo-Olu
Next Article Nigeria records 920 new COVID-19 cases

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Okay.ng Logo

Parallel Market Rates

USD
Buy₦1,550.00
Sell₦1,565.00
GBP
Buy₦1,760.00
Sell₦1,790.00
EUR
Buy₦2,135.00
Sell₦2,170.00

Updated: 2 days ago

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

Quick Converter

0.00
ShareShareShare

Rates are for informational purposes only.

Okay.ng Logo Parallel Market Rates
USD
Buy
Sell
GBP
Buy
Sell
EUR
Buy
Sell
| okay.ng
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike
Wike Accuses Opposition Leaders of Self-Interest, Questions Their Commitment to Nigerians
Politics Top stories
Workers’ Unrest Looms as Nigeria Faces Economic and Security Crisis — NLC Issues Stark Warning
News
Rising Star Gonzalo Garcia Shares Top Scorer Spotlight at FIFA Club World Cup
Sport
Security Measures Heightened in Oyo State as Neo-Black Movement Prepares for Annual Founders’ Day
Security
Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar Pledges to Combat Electoral Fraud, Promises Socioeconomic Renewal Through ADC in 2027 Polls
Politics
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

InternationalTop stories

Nigeria and Brazil Forge Stronger Agricultural Ties to Boost Food Security

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
July 6, 2025
News

Anglican Bishop of Warri Raises Alarm Over Nigeria’s Spiraling Insecurity and Calls for Urgent Government Action

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
July 6, 2025
Politics

Nigeria’s 2027 Political Landscape: ADC Emerges as a Potent Challenger to APC Amid PDP’s Decline

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
July 6, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?