IDF to launch vaccination operation with goal of inoculating 6,000 by week’s end

The Israel Defense Forces plans to launch its vaccination drive tomorrow, with the goal of inoculating 6,000 servicemembers by the end of the week, the military spokesperson says.

IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman tells reporters that while the military’s internal vaccination effort was beginning Monday, the main thrust of the operation would only begin in a few weeks when larger numbers of vaccines become available.

Currently, the Health Ministry, which is leading the national vaccination effort, has allocated 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to the IDF, enough for 25,000 people, as each full course of the vaccine requires two shots.

According Zilberman, the military’s initial focus will be on vaccinating its medical personnel who are actively taking part in the pandemic response and soldiers with health issues that put them at risk, followed by top officers in IDF high command and certain units that may require the vaccine in order to maintain full combat readiness, such as submarine crews, which operate in close quarters.

— Judah Ari Gross