Israel has signed with Moderna Inc for the future purchase of its potential COVID-19 vaccine should the company succeed in its development, Israel Hayom learned Tuesday.
Israel has been able to keep the pandemic largely at bay thanks to strict restrictions imposed on the public and the economy, and several top institutions in the Jewish state are currently trying to develop a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen at the core of the disease.
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The Health Ministry said on Monday that it has noticed a troubling increase in the number if Israelis infected with the virus as 182 coronavirus cases have been confirmed nationwide since Sunday.
Some 19,338 Israelis have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since mid-march when the pandemic hit the country. The virus has killed 302 Israelites, while 15,438 patients have recovered.
According to Channel 13 News, that under the agreement the vaccine, if successful, will be exported to Israel. No other details were reported.
According to a Health Ministry official, Israel plans to ink similar deals with other companies.
"This agreement is not the final say on this matter – no country puts all of its eggs in one basket and similar deals with other companies are expected. That's true risk management.
"It's important to remember that if Israel doesn't 'buy' its reserves now, when the vaccine is approved we may find that we have to wait in line for a few years for it.
"In terms of the costs," he explained, "it's also important to remember that a lockdown costs the economy billions of shekels a day."
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