The vaccination of Palestinian workers employed in Israel and in the settlements began

The vaccination of Palestinian workers employed in Israel and in the settlements began Monday. At this stage, eight vaccine complexes are operating at checkpoints between Israel and the West Bank, and it is estimated that approximately 7,600 workers were vaccinated during the day. The Civil Administration, the Ministry of Health and the Manufacturers' Organization aim to vaccinate 120,000 workers in the coming days - in accordance with the vaccine doses allocated to the operation. The vaccine will be given to Palestinians who hold a permit to enter Israel or settlements, and a valid work permit.
The campaign is intended to include vaccine complexes at the Gilboa, Rachel, LH, Meitar, Sha'ar Ephraim, Eyal, Hashmonaim and Tarkumiya checkpoints; and later in the Barkan industrial area, Ma'ale Adumim in Ariel and Efrat. The transport conditions required for Pfizer vaccines, which are used in Israel, the first phase of the vaccination campaign will last ten days, and in the coming weeks another campaign will be held to administer the second vaccine dose.
Last week there was concern that the budget for the operation would not be approved by the government due to disagreements with blue and white. According to the source involved in the details of the operation, the budget for vaccines is first included in the current budget that is transferred to the Ministry of Health. Last week, however, as part of a decision by Finance Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to pass a new external budget ("Corona box") on Sunday, the vaccine budget was attached to it.
A long line of Palestinian workers lingered this morning at the entrance to the vaccination compound set up at the Rachel crossing (checkpoint 300), near Bethlehem. The workers came directly from the West Bank, and some were assisted by shuttles organized by the workplaces. The workers were required to present the soldiers with their green IDs and entry permits to Israel, after which they were vaccinated by MDA medics.