Netanyahu feeling ‘terrific’ after receiving vaccine, predicts Israel could be first country to beat virus

After receiving a coronavirus vaccine, Prime Minister Netanyahu says he is feeling “terrific” and Israel can be the first country to beat the COVID-19 pandemic if people get vaccinated.

“I ask you … to go and get vaccinated,” Netanyahu tells reporters at Sheba Medical Center. “We are leaving the darkness of the coronavirus, the start of the journey to a great light.”

He urges Israelis to continue to follow the restrictions: social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and wearing masks.

“If everybody gets vaccinated more quickly, then we’ll restore normal life more quickly — and first and foremost the economy,” he says.

To get back to “business as usual… we need your help,” he says.

Netanyahu adds: “If everyone cooperates, keeps the rules and goes to get vaccinated, we’ll get out of this and we could well be the first country in the world to emerge from this [pandemic]. Let’s do it together.”

Asked by a reporter in English if he was nervous to get the shot, he laughs and says, “No, no, I wasn’t nervous. I thought it was important to set a personal example so that all Israelis would go and vaccinate themselves.”

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein says he also feels fine after being vaccinated and to the disappointment of the fake news purveyors, he quips, “I haven’t grown a tail.”