Israel on Monday, November 4, 2019, officially launched its annual campaign for Israelis to get vaccinated against the flu, placing on emphasis on the high-risk population groups. The first vaccinations will be given to members of the high-risk categories as the vaccinations have arrived in Israel.

With winter moving in, so does flu season and two persons already diagnosed with the illness, the H1N1 pandemic, both males; ages 36 and 55. According to the Ministry of Health, the official vaccination campaign is underway.

The nation’s kupot cholim (HMOs) are to begin offering the vaccination to members free of charge. The healthcare community is calling on members of the high-risk groups to come forward, including; the elderly, persons with a weak immune system, children between the ages of 6-12, and persons with underlying health problems. Children in second, third and fourth grades will receive vaccinations in schools. The second dose can be received in one’s HMO for those children requiring it.

It is pointed out that the medical community does not all agree, and there are physicians who advise their patients not to get vaccinated unless they are in a high-risk category.

The vaccines arrived a month late this year due to the World Health Organization debating which components are to be contained in the vaccine. On Monday, the Knesset Finance Committee was scheduled to discuss a request for an additional NIS 3 million from the treasury for the purchase of vaccinations.

Kupat Cholim Clalit, the nation’s largest HMO, has ordered 1.1 million vaccinations. Kupat Cholim Maccabi has ordered 17,000 doses more than last year to meet the demand, totaling 467,000 vaccinations. Kupat Cholim Meuchedet has ordered 250,000 vaccinations but it will only receive 70,000 in the first delivery and an additional 55,000 in the second shipment. Kupat Cholim Leumit has ordered 115,000 vaccinations as it did last year, and to date, it has only received a small portion of the order.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)