According to Israel Health Ministry data, fewer citizens are reporting to HMO clinics to get vaccinated against the flu. It was hoped that after it is announced the vaccines arrived in the country, Israelis would come for the free vaccine, but numbers are down compared to previous years. It is added this year, the vaccine arrived in the country later than usual. This is because the World Health Organization had not decided which strains of the flu were to be included in this year’s vaccinations.

Many parents seem to feel children develop their own natural immunity and there is no need to introduce vaccinations. Efrat, a mom whose daughter remains in very serious condition because of the flu says otherwise, telling the public her daughter cannot breathe on her own and she is very ill at present. “Go get vaccinated” is her message.

Efrat’s five-year-old daughter is in critical condition after contracting the flu. On Monday night she complained she was not feeling well. She began vomiting and had a fever, which spiked quite rapidly. On Tuesday evening, her mother took her to an emergency room, and she remains hospitalized at present and connected to a respirator.

Efrat and her husband contracted the flu too, as reported by YWN-Israel, and they too were hospitalized. While Efrat’s condition has improved, her husband’s condition is quite serious as well, as he developed pneumonia and remains hospitalized. Efrat explains the vaccinations arrived late and that is why they did not get vaccinated this year.

Efrat is correct, as the vaccinations only arrived in Israel this month, about two months later than last year. The ministry now reports it appears most Israelis appear uninterested in getting vaccinated this year.

In 2017, the ministry reports 45% of the population got vaccinated, as compared to 37% in 2018. This year, only 560,000 citizens were vaccinated until November 17, 2019, representing 6% of the country approximately. Last year, at the same time, 13% of the populations had been vaccinated.

The numbers are worrisome for the nation’s healthcare officials, who urge citizens to get the free vaccinations, with an emphasis on the high-risk groups; which include the elderly, persons with chronic underlying illnesses, pregnant women and small children.

The numbers are particularly worrisome among the elderly, a high-risk population. Only 26% of the elderly, persons over 65, have been vaccinated as compared to 47% last year. The drop is also seen among children with only 3% vaccinated this year as compared to 11% last year.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)