A cut and a shot: Tel Aviv pushes COVID-19 vaccine with free food

In collaboration with local restaurants, Tel Aviv offered the food at two pop-up vaccination centers, hoping to persuade the vaccine department to take a chance.

Although Israel is leading the world in the rapid pace of its vaccination process, the authorities are still concerned that younger people who are less prone to dangerous coronavirus complications, and others who are apprehensive about vaccination, will not be stabbed.

So it was free pizza, hummus and knafeh, a sweet Middle Eastern dessert with phyllo dough, for everyone. And dozens of people showed up.A Tel Aviv resident accepts COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 / GUY YECHIELI

“We came to be vaccinated, until now we were worried, but due to the upcoming restrictions (against people who do not vaccinate) there was not much choice, and it is also very nice to have a pizza and a coffee. to get, ”Lizi Kritzer said. , a 32-year-old municipal worker.

Israel plans to ease more restrictions on businesses on Sunday and reopen hotels and gyms to those who are fully vaccinated or considered immune after recovering from COVID-19.

With nearly 43% of citizens receiving at least one shot of the Pfizer Inc. vaccine, Israel has continued the gradual easing of the December 27 closure measures.

His ambitious vaccination made it the largest study of Pfizer’s vaccine. The country’s largest healthcare provider reported a 94% drop in the symptomatic cases of COVID-19 among 600,000 people who received both doses.A Tel Aviv resident accepts free food after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination shot on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 / GUY YECHIELI

Eytan Schwartz, a spokesman for the Tel Aviv Municipality, said the city hopes the food and beverages offered at the vaccination stations in two community centers will create a “family-like atmosphere” to attract the hesitant.