From Innovation Nation to VacciNATION

There is much cause for optimism as Israel ranks ahead of much of the rest of the world in its vaccination campaign and continues to roll back its restrictions, though the future is still uncertain and caution must still be exercised. This was the conclusion of a panel of experts from Bar-Ilan University and Meuhedet Health Services, who spoke at the Scientific Attachés' Conference, entitled "Israel: From Innovation Nation to VacciNATION", for members of the diplomatic community in Israel.

The conference, organized by Bar-Ilan University's International School and moderated by Deputy President Prof. Moshe Lewenstein, highlighted Israel's experience with and response to COVID-19, vaccination strategy and implementation, and a look at what lies ahead. Speakers included Prof. Cyrille Cohen, of the Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, epidemiologist Prof. Michael Edelstein, from the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Yuval Feldman, of the Faculty of Law; and Sigal Regev Rosenberg. CEO of Meuhedet Health Services.  Members of the diplomatic corps from around the world took part in the online event. 

Besides Israel, the UAE, UK, US, Chile and Morocco are the leading countries in vaccination per capita, according to Prof. Cyrille Cohen, Vice Dean of the Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Director of the Immunotherapy Laboratory. Much of Europe, on the other hand, lags behind. Some countries in the EU have temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a precautionary measure based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders following vaccination. In Cohen's native France, general suspicion of the government and vaccines, and fake news prevails, as well as many anti-vaxxers. "How can you compare a Facebook post against the vaccine written in five minutes to a specialist with many years of experience?" asked Cohen, who also serves as a member of the Ministry of Health Advisory Committee on Vaccines. The result is that only three out of ten people in the French health care system have been vaccinated, while 75-98% have been vaccinated in Israel. The Israeli media, largely pro-vaccine, assisted in this effort. However, he emphasized that the vaccine is not the only public health measure to curb the spread of the virus, and it should be used in addition to mass testing, contact tracing, isolation and other measures.

How did the virus spread so quickly? COVID-19 provided an optimal situation for rapid and global spread. "The fact that we live in a globalized world means that we can contract any virus anywhere in the world and transmit it to another country before we even know that we are sick," said Prof. Michael Edelstein, Associate Professor of Public Health. He praised the scientific community's rapid development of a vaccine, far faster than ever anticipated, and said that it is an unparalleled achievement which will set a precedent in the future. Having just returned from an assessment mission led by the humanitarian organization IsraAID to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Edelstein said the African nation just received its first 20,000 doses of the vaccine and pointed out that Israel is fortunate to have enough vaccines for all. He praised the strength of Israel's world-leading data system, which includes information on who has and hasn't been vaccinated, and creative efforts, such as vaccination parties and culinary events, which are tailored to encourage specific population/ethnic groups to get the jab. He concluded by saying that Israel may be the first country in the world to be able to lift restrictions thanks to evidence-based research.

The situation is so good in Israel that special vaccination locations opened all over the country are beginning to close and related efforts are being carried out at Meuhedet Health Services' various clinics. CEO Sigal Regev Rosenberg believes that the pandemic is largely behind Israel, but that COVID-19 will linger on as a children's epidemic until a vaccine is available.  As schools reopen and the summer season approaches with its activities such as camps and pools that attract large numbers of people, she predicted that many children will be infected, but that parents may be hesitant to vaccinate their children because they are often asymptomatic or experience minimal symptoms. Nevertheless, she advocated for a full return to life as usual and said that Israel has enough vaccines for next year, as well.

Prof. Yuval Feldman, Mori Lazarof Professor of Legal Research in the Faculty of Law, reviewed the various approaches undertaken in Israel to facilitate public compliance vis-à-vis vaccinations and the Green Pass.  For example, to encourage citizens to receive the injection --particularly those who were hesitant -- HMOs could initiate appointments via SMS and emphasized that postponement could mean not receiving the vaccine in the near future. Another approach was to focus on mutual responsibility – not just for personal benefit but also for the good of the more vulnerable. Further, cities above a certain percentage rate of vaccinated residents received special incentives, and just knowing that so many people were vaccinated was a significant motivating factor. Regarding the Green Pass, Feldman said that research has shown that even a small delay in gaining entry to public places has been very effective in encouraging people to download the Health Ministry app and Green Pass. "This is not about preventing people from buying food or getting to the doctor. It is about facilitating entry to sporting and cultural events, and other places of leisure," he said. Those who've opted out of the vaccine will not be denied entry, but must take an additional safety measure such as getting tested, and he expressed hope that rapid tests for the non-vaccinated (including children) will be provided at a symbolic cost near entry points to crowded places. He said it is unfortunate that Green Pass rules aren't being enforced as they should because this will set a bad precedent for tackling the same issues next year and might reduce the public trust in the credibility of the government with regard to Green Pass rules.

All agreed that it is important not to be complacent and to double the efforts to reach those parts of the community that haven't been vaccinated. The virus is still circulating, with close to 2,000 new cases each day, but almost exclusively among those not vaccinated, and it is important to continue social distancing and wearing masks.

University President Prof. Arie Zaban highlighted Bar-Ilan's response to COVID-19, which included changes in teaching methodologies, classroom environments, learning spaces, online exams, student services, student recruitment, remote working, and the significant challenge of maintaining student and faculty morale and sense of connection to campus over the past year. The University successfully implemented some of these changes from one week to the next, following notification that classes could no longer take place on campus.

In response to a participant's question, Deputy President Lewenstein noted that while students are beginning to return to campus, remote learning has proven useful and effective, and the University will continue to offer this option.