Israel Surpasses 5 Million Second COVID-19 Vaccinations... Reaches 54% of Total Population

The Vaccination Target Proportion Approaches 80%

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Local media reported on the 23rd (local time) that the number of people in Israel who have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has surpassed 5 million. This accounts for 54% of the total population and about 80% of the eligible population.

According to statistics from the Israeli Ministry of Health, the number of second-dose recipients exceeded 5 million last night, and as of this morning, it stands at 5,003,113. The proportion of second-dose recipients relative to the total population (approximately 9.3 million) is about 54%, and the proportion relative to the eligible adult population aged 16 and over is close to 80%. The proportion of first-dose recipients (about 5.37 million) relative to the total population is approximately 58%.

Israel imported the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 19 last year and rapidly proceeded with nationwide vaccinations. Starting from February 7, when the first-dose vaccination rate approached 40% of the population, Israel began lifting lockdown measures, and now most commercial and public facilities are operating normally.

Vaccinated individuals receive a certificate called the "Green Pass," which allows them to use indoor facilities and participate in events with large gatherings. Since the 18th, the outdoor mask-wearing mandate has also been lifted.

Despite easing lockdowns based on vaccine immunity, Israel's infection indicators continue to improve. The daily number of new confirmed cases, which exceeded 10,000 in mid-January, has decreased to the low 100s, and as of the 22nd, the positivity rate among all tests is 0.4%. Although the cumulative confirmed cases reached about 837,000, approximately 9% of the total population, and deaths totaled 6,346 due to initial inadequate response, the number of patients currently under treatment has decreased to 1,954, with 161 in severe condition.