Vaccine Distribution: United States versus Israel
By: Jude Beale
COVID-19 has been affecting the lives of people around the world daily since March 2020. More than 25 million people in the U.S. have been sick with COVID-19 since January 2020. Even worse, more than 400,000 have died from the virus. Americans and doctors worldwide have been looking for any way to find a light at the end of the tunnel. But America's approach to ending the pandemic has differed from that of other country's, including Israel's. One thing that is critical everywhere, though, is vaccination. To date, more than 130 million people have received at the least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. April 19th was the date when all American Adults became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The federal government, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, worked since the pandemic started to develop, manufacture, and distribute safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in a mission called “Warp Speed”. After long and hard work, there seemed to be a chance of slowing down the COVID-19 virus great. On December 11th, 2020, the FDA issued the first emergency use authorization for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in people 16 years and older and on December 14th, 2020, vaccinations began in the United States. Four days later, the FDA issued the 2nd emergency use authorization for the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and the third for the Johnson & Johnson / Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in February 2021. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on April, 13th, 2021, that "out of an abundance of caution," that they are temporarily pausing the use of the Johnson / Janssen vaccine use. They made this announcement after six-woman, ages 18 to 48 developed a blood-clotting disorder that leaving one dead.
Though many are trying to get the vaccine fast, there is only a limited quantity at this point. Currently, there are more than 150,000,000 vaccines administered in the U.S. By July 1st, 2021, it is expected that 80% of U.S citizens will have at least one shot of a vaccine at this rate. The CDC recommended prioritizing healthcare workers and residents in long-term care facilities to receive the vaccine first. Then, each state developed its own plan for deciding which groups of people would be vaccinated in the next groups. Later, a government directive announced that teachers, school staff, and child-care workers should be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine distribution has gone slower than officials initially hoped. On January 20th, 2021, President Joe Biden took office. A few days later, he said that he hoped to get 100 million shots administered in his first 100 days of office. Later on January 25th, Joe Biden upped his COVID-19 vaccination goal to 150,000,000 shots in his first 100 days.
Israel has taken a different path now that the vaccine has been released. Israel’s COVID vaccine rollout is known to be the fastest in the world. In June 2020, months before the vaccine had been release, Israel was one of the first countries to sign agreements with the vaccine companies to purchase supplies when the vaccines were ready. Israel is reported to have ordered 8 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 6 million doses of Moderna. Finally, they first began vaccinating their people on December 19th, 2020. Prime minister Netanyahu announced that this vaccine would allow Israel to become the first country in the world to emerge from COVID-19. He calls this COVID-19 vaccine roll out operation “back to life.”
Just as the United States, Israel has many plans for who gets the vaccine first and how to convince citizens to receive it. Initially, priority was given to people over age 60, healthcare workers, and people who are clinically vulnerable or at risk. This makes up about one-quarter of Israel’s citizens. To date, Israel is vaccinating about 150,000 people per day with a goal that the majority of the country will be vaccinated by April. The Israeli government is using new incentives and possibly coercive measures to persuade people to receive the vaccine. Controversial new legislation was passed in February that allows the government to give city officials and education and welfare ministries the information on residents who have chosen not to be vaccinated. The law allows city workers to contact those people and work to convince them to vaccinate. Currently in Israel, once you receive the vaccine, you get a “green pass.” For now, it is the only way that citizens will be allowed to get into many public places once they reopen. This structure is very different from the U.S because instead of trying to require their citizens to receive the vaccine, the United States suggests Americans receive these.