IDF chief to receive coronavirus vaccine on Sunday

The Israel Defense Forces says it will begin vaccinating soldiers against the coronavirus by the end of next month according to level of necessity.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi will receive the military’s first dose of the vaccine on Sunday in order to set a “personal example” to the rest of the troops, the military says.

Once large quantities of the coronavirus vaccine arrive in Israel over the coming weeks, the military will begin vaccinating troops on a larger scale. The order of priority was set by the IDF Operations Directorate, according to a statement from the military.

The first recipients will be medical professionals who are most exposed to the virus, followed by servicemembers at risk of the disease because of health issues, then select combat units, then all combat troops, critical support staff and top officers, the IDF says.

— Judah Ari Gross