Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein were received their first doses of the coronavirus vaccine at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer on Saturday evening.
Health Ministry Director-General Professor Hezi Levy and other senior members of Sheba's medical staff, including Professor Galia Rahav and Professor Gili Regev, also received their first coronavirus shots.
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"This is a great day for Israel. We've been fighting the worst pandemic humanity has seen in a century for nearly a year. By the end of the month, there will be millions of vaccines here, and later on, millions more. Everyone should be vaccinated. I asked to be the first one vaccinated, along with Health Minister Edelstein, in order to serve as a personal example and encourage the public to do the same. I believe in the vaccine. Tens of thousands have received it successfully. The best scientists have approved it. We can start now," Netanyahu said.
"This is a very exciting moment. On the way here, I was thinking about the children who are worried about their parents, about the grandchildren who want to hug their grandparents, about business owners who will be able to open their businesses; about restaurateurs, gyms, about how we'll be able to go to soccer stadiums, see soccer games, and of course, reopen the country and restore it to what it was. Go back to the normal life we long for. It starts with this." Netanyahu said.
"That was a small jab for a man, a huge step for the health of us all. May this be this successful. Go out and get vaccinated!" the prime minister said.
Netanyahu thanked Sheba Medical Center director Professor Itsik Kreiss, his personal physicial Dr. Zvi Herman Berkovitch, who administered his vaccine and all medical workers.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank a special person, CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla, a new personal friend of mine but a huge friend to Israel and humanity at large. What they have done is incredible. What is less obvious is that Israel is the first country to be vaccinated," the prime minister added.
Netanyahu had personally reached out multiple times to Bourla, boasting that at one point he was able to reach the CEO at 2 a.m.
After receiving his shot, Netanyahu was placed in observation for half an hour to monitor for possible allergic reactions.
Netanyahu said he felt "wonderful" and asked everyone to continue following the basic public health rules about social distancing, hand washing, masks, and avoiding gatherings.
"The faster everyone is vaccinated, the faster we'll get back to the normalcy we used to know – the economy, first of all. We'll invest more resources and effort in putting things back the way they were. We need your help, and it's up to us all," he stressed.
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"If everyone cooperates, both in following the rules and getting vaccinated, we'll make our way out of this. It's very possible that Israel might be the first country in the world to do so."
Israel has reported more than 366,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. The country currently is recording nearly 3,000 new cases a day, and officials have begun debating the possibility of a third nationwide lockdown to bring the outbreak under control.
Israel has an agreement with Pfizer to secure 8 million doses of the US pharmaceutical company's vaccine – enough to cover nearly half of Israel's population since each person requires two doses.
Israel has mobile vaccination units with refrigerators that can keep the Pfizer shots at the required minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 F). Israel reached a separate agreement with Moderna earlier this month to purchase 6 million doses of its vaccine – enough for another 3 million Israelis. Officials expect to be able to administer over 60,000 doses a day.
Edelstein said that Saturday's date, Dec. 19, held personal significance for him. "On this date in 1984 I was tried in the Soviet Union for my desire to make aliyah. Today, on Dec. 19, 2020, I have the great privilege of being the health minister and launching, along with the prime minister, Israel's vaccination campaign, which will test the strength of Israeli society. Friends, there are reasons to be optimistic."
Levy called the evening "historic, after a difficult year and given the growing number of cases right now. Finally, we are starting to vaccinate the population with a vaccine that has been proven safe and effective in clinical trials. Without a doubt, there is hope of preventing more cases after mass vaccination of the population."
The Health Ministry has reported that the vaccination campaign will be initiated in stages.
"Israel has hundreds of thousands of vaccines, and millions more are soon due to arrive by air. We will supply vaccines to the healthcare providers and to vaccination centers. We are happy to report that we will be able to provide the two doses of the coronavirus vaccine that are needed," the ministry said.
Starting Sunday, Israel plans to begin administering vaccines to medical workers and nursing home residents.
Netanyahu is not the only world leader to roll up his sleeve and receive the vaccination in an attempt to encourage his country's residents to do the same. On Friday, US Vice President Mike Pence was vaccinated.
