With the vast majority of Israelis aged 16 and older already vaccinated or recovering from COVID-19, large vaccination centers in the country’s major cities have begun to close as the focus shifts to smaller, mobile stations in smaller communities.
More than 5.1 million of Israel’s 9.3 million residents received at least one vaccine dose, and more than 4.5 million received both shots.
With at least 3 million others unable to vaccinate under the age of 16, the vaccination rate has declined dramatically because those who want to vaccinate have mostly done so already.
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A massive vaccination center at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv has been removed, and works on a planned railway line starting there next month are reported daily, according to the Globes company.
Israelis sit on December 31, 2020 near a vaccination center at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv (Miriam ALster / Flash90)
The giant tent complex run by the municipality along with the Ichilov Hospital in the city has been used by Maccabi and Meuhedet health providers to vaccinate thousands of residents.
Another large center in a stadium in north Tel Aviv is also being closed because sporting events are slowly returning.
It was not immediately clear what would be done with the large vaccination centers in Jerusalem.
Healthcare providers will now provide vaccinations in some of their existing clinics.
People receive COVID-19 vaccine injections at a mobile Magen David station at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on February 22, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi / Flash90)
In addition, health care providers and the Magen David Adom ambulance service have shifted their focus to small, mobile vaccination centers in different locations, focusing on communities where vaccination rates are relatively low, especially in Arab areas.
Those who recovered from COVID-19 at least three months ago may also receive a (single) dose of vaccine.
Officials said vaccination of children under the age of 16 could possibly begin in the summer, as trials show the shots are safe for them.
