Israel is now vaccinating teenagers for COVID-19, after churning through 3.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, according to reports.
Students born between 2003 and 2004 became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on Saturday, following a new set of measures implemented Thursday by the Health Ministry to curb the spread of the virus and accelerate immunization efforts.
“Education must be our top priority,” Blue and White leader and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz said. “After we have ensured that the teachers are vaccinated, we must make sure that the youth can attend their exams and return to the school framework as soon as possible.”
More than 76,700 people in Israel are currently infected, The Jerusalem Post reported Saturday. A national lockdown is set to continue until at least Jan. 31, according to the publication.
Nearly 2.5 million Israelis have received an initial dose, and about 1 million have been given both shots.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to inoculate all citizens over the age of 16 by the end of March.
