This is what life looks like now in Israel, where half of the population has already been vaccinated

Israel is number 1 when it comes to vaccination. More than half of the population has already received a first corona pepper. Step by step, life is returning to normal, but at the same time there is ‘enormous polarization’ in the country.

In recent weeks, more and more has been possible in the country. Restaurants, bars, shops, garden centers, gyms, theaters and museums can again receive people. Recently there was even a concert with hundreds of attendees. But all this is subject to a strict condition. You must have a special ‘green passport’ with which you can prove that you have been vaccinated.

‘Very surreal’

Ohad Ethan, who lives and works with his husband and two children in Tel Aviv, gives us a tour on his phone, including visits to the hairdresser. By showing the green passport, you can just drop by here for a haircut. The owner’s vaccination certificate hangs on the wall of the salon.

The couple owns a bridal shop and can now ‘finally open their doors again’. “That is a real relief for us because after a year, weddings are finally possible again.” On a video he shows that the nightlife in Tel Aviv is just as vibrant as before. “It is very surreal to go out for dinner after all this time and just walk into a restaurant.”

Vaccinatierace

After Prime Minister Netanyahu was one of the first of a total of 9 million residents to receive the Pfizer vaccine, more than 5 million people in Israel have now been vaccinated. Even 85 percent of the risk groups have already been fully vaccinated. An exceptional achievement, even for a country where healthcare is tightly organized. The army was even deployed for the vaccination campaign.

But the success also comes with a hefty price tag. For example, the government is said to have bought vaccines for twice the actual price. In addition, the government entered into a special contract with Pfizer that provides the pharmaceutical company with data on vaccinations and infections.

Split between vaccinated and non-vaccinated

But despite these good figures, there is absolutely no question of just a jubilant mood in the country, says Wim Luyxx, who has lived in Israel for more than 30 years. “There is enormous polarization in the country. Here you really have a split between vaccinated and non-vaccinated.”

According to the Dutchman, many see the vaccination campaign as a political campaign. “Netanyahu is a political man who does everything to clear his name. Just to show off: we are the best in the world.” There will be elections in Israel on March 23. Netanyahu, who is suspected of corruption, then wants to be re-elected.

What can we learn from Israel?

In any case, the developments in Israel are viewed with great interest worldwide. The Dutchman Ewout van Ginneken is leading one of the most important studies in this field. For the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, he analyzes for the WHO and the European Commission, among others, the care systems in more than fifty different countries during this pandemic.

“Israel is an interesting testing ground, because they can give a glimpse of what lies ahead. It gives us a lot of information and we should take advantage of that. But we also need to look to other countries to see what the effects are. are “, says van Ginneken. “Israel can show what maybe our conditions are like in a few months from now. That’s because they were able to get a lot of vaccines early on. That has given them a huge head start.”

‘Vaccinate everyone from the age of 60’

“All adults were able to get a vaccine after just one month,” explains Van Ginneken. “That is not comparable to us because we simply do not have enough vaccines for that, but I do think we should have asked the question: how could it have been better here? “I hope that we will now also look at how quickly we can expand the prioritization of population groups in the Netherlands. That we will also vaccinate from 60 years and older instead of filling group by group.”

Despite the many positive developments, it is also not the case that corona has completely disappeared in Israel. “They still have a lot of infections, but the number of admissions and deaths is falling enormously.”

Vaccination campaign

Just like in the Netherlands, not everyone in Israel wants to be vaccinated. “Israel is a very varied country, with certain groups that do not want to be vaccinated, for example from a religious point of view. You have to get there first,” says Van Ginneken.

The Netherlands can also learn something from Israel with regard to the vaccination campaign. “A vaccination campaign was planned very specifically for all these groups. Then they were approached through their own group with enthusiastic videos about vaccination. And, for example, entire events were organized for young people around the injection locations. I really think we could do some of that. can learn. “

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