Israel ranks 3rd in COVID vaccination per capita, trailing UAE and Uruguay

By AFP 24 August 2021, 7:35 pm

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Israelis over 60 receive their third-dose booster of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit HMO clinic in Jerusalem, on August 8, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

More than five billion COVID vaccines have been given globally, an AFP tally of official sources shows, with the worldwide inoculation drive reaching cruising speed.

While it took around 140 days to get the first billion shots into people’s arms, the third, fourth and fifth billion each took between 26 and 30 days, the data shows.

Nearly 40 percent (1.96 billion) of the five billion shots have been administered in China. India (589 million) and the United States (363 million) make up the trio of countries that have given the most jabs.

In terms of population protected per capita, among countries with more than one million people, the United Arab Emirates is the leader. It has administered 179 doses per 100 inhabitants, meaning it has fully vaccinated nearly 75 percent of its population.

People receive their COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Modiin on August 15, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Uruguay follows with 154 per 100 inhabitants, followed by Israel (149), Qatar (148), Singapore (147), Bahrain (144), Denmark (143), Chile (140), Canada (139), Portugal and Belgium (138 each), China (136), Spain (134), Ireland (133) and the United Kingdom (132).

Most of these countries have fully vaccinated between 65% and 70% of their populations.

Some, like the Emirates, Bahrain, Israel, Uruguay and Chile have even started giving out booster shots to prolong the immunity of the fully vaccinated.

France, which will start giving booster shots from mid-September, is not far behind, with 126 doses injected per 100 people and 62% of the population completely vaccinated.

It has bypassed the United States, which has given 110 doses per 100 inhabitants, with 52% completely vaccinated.