In Israel, teenagers can now get the COVID-19 vaccine
A nurse administers a COVID-19 vaccine. Photo by Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images
(JTA) — Israel continues to far outpace the entire world in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
This weekend the country’s health ministry announced that teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 are now eligible for the vaccine.
In all, Israel has vaccinated about 2.5 million out of its approximately 9 million citizens since beginning its drive in late December, the ministry said Friday.
At the same time, the country is in the midst of a strict third national lockdown due to a recent sharp spike in COVID cases.
The health ministry reported that 7,316 new cases were confirmed Friday. Earlier in the week, the new case number peaked at over 10,000, a record.
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
