Israel may not be able to provide next vaccine round - COVID czar

• Published date: 30 March 2021
• Date: 30 March 2021
• Author: MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"There is real competition to buy vaccines by countries around the world," Ash said. "We want to reserve our place at the top of the list and not be pushed down to the end so that we cannot get them [vaccines] when they are most needed."

He said that Israel currently has enough doses to inoculate anyone over 16 who wants the jab. The contracts are forward-looking – "required for we don't know when" – but likely in the next year or two.

"Countries are really struggling to get them now and they all want to secure future vaccines. As such, we need to move fast," he said.

Ash's warning came after a cabinet meeting that was set to take place on Monday, and at which ministers were likely to approve the purchase of the requested vaccines, was postponed indefinitely due to a conflict between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz.

Gantz canceled the meeting because of Netanyahu's refusal to approve the permanent appointment of a justice minister. Gantz's term as acting justice minister is set to end April 5.

The government was also expected to approve an additional NIS 3.5b. in funds for the health system.

Following the meeting, Health Ministry Director-General Chezy Levy attacked the politicization of the coronavirus and warned that the delay could both harm Israel's ability to procure future vaccines and would result in a "lack of budget for day-to-day management of the fight against coronavirus."

However, by Tuesday night, Gantz and Netanyahu again politicized the pandemic.

"There are those who delay the government's approval of the purchase of these additional vaccines and it is very dangerous," Netanyahu said, warning, like Ash, that Israel would lose its place in the vaccine queue. "It's dangerous to health, dangerous to the economy. Politics must be put aside and the government must immediately approve the purchase of the additional vaccines."

He added that he expected that the new vaccine order would arrive in time to vaccinate the country's children.

Gantz responded that the prime minister is "suffocating our democracy in order to escape justice, and trying to leave the State of Israel without a justice...