Within four weeks of securing a Covid-19 vaccine, 25 per cent of Israel’s population have already received their first jab, a higher fraction than any other nation. Early delivery of ample supplies and a digitised universal medical system have been key to the success of Israel’s vaccination scheme, Operation ‘Back to Life’.
To achieve this, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a deal with Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla. “The agreement (…) will enable us to vaccinate all citizens of Israel over the age of 16 by the end of March”, said Netanyahu on 7 January. Israel paid top dollar for early delivery, reportedly twice the market price, although the exact amounts remain undisclosed. The Prime Minister reasoned that the benefits of restarting the economy will outweigh the extra costs.
