Health minister livid over leaked details on Pfizer vaccine deal: ‘A grave crime’

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein is fuming over leaked details of Israel’s agreement with Pfizer to purchase the coronavirus vaccine that the US pharma firm is developing.

“A grave crime was committed on Friday. Some source passed on details of the agreement with Pfizer, which had confidentiality from the press,” Edelstein says during the cabinet meeting, according to a Health Ministry statement.

He adds: “I have no doubt this will make it more difficult to reach understandings with other countries, because they’re exposed to what we signed with Pfizer.”

After Netanyahu and Edelstein announced the signing of the deal on Friday, the Ynet news reported that the deal doesn’t require Pfizer to supply the vaccines, saying only that the company intends to do so “according to circumstances.” If Pfizer doesn’t supply them, it’ll return Israel’s advance.