- Israel hopes to immunize 2 million people ( out of 9 million) by the end of January.
- A success scrutinized abroad which is based on anticipation to vaccinate at faster, efficient logistics and strong communication.
- Could France, much criticized for its slowness, Inspire ? To a certain extent only, since the two countries are very different.
Critics keep raining down on the government for its very slow campaign of vaccination . And some eyes are turning internationally. If our German neighbors, who have already vaccinated more than 190. 000 people also bear the brunt of the admonitions of some , there is a country that denotes for its speed: Israel.
How Israel conducts its vaccine policy?
Indeed, since 10 December, the first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are administered to Israeli citizens in 230 vaccination centers. Those of Moderna arrive this same Thursday. The country therefore hopes to have vaccinated 2 million citizens by the end of January.
“The success of the campaign is based on three pillars: anticipation, fluidity of logistics and communication, synthesizes Frédérique Schillo , historian specializing in Israel who resides in Jerusalem. The vaccines were pre-purchased before the end of the clinical phases, in June for Moderna. Then, we see that the logistics are particularly efficient, via the four social security funds. What is interesting is that these two aspects are linked. Knowing the efficiency of the logistics of this small country, the Pfizer and Moderna laboratories made sure that Israel was served among the first. He could be a pilot, even a showcase of success. »
How does this logistics work? Priority citizens, namely those over 24 years, people at risk, teachers, caregivers and airport workers are contacted based on their Social Security number by text to get vaccinated . They are free to come or not, since vaccination is not compulsory. On the SMS, time and place of vaccination to avoid waiting and clusters. Not only doctors, but all health professionals can vaccinate. “It’s a mix between the strength of the Labor system and the modernity of the start-up nation: everything is digitized, summarizes Frédérique Schillo. Thanks to the shared medical record, all information is accessible to every doctor on the Internet. Medical monitoring is also done online. Vaccinodromes operate seven days a week, even on Shabbat. Israel is used to crises… and to national upheaval. When others proclaim war on the coronavirus, Israel does it, and we know that Israel knows how to wage war. »
Finally, the third axis, communication. “It is massive, positive, very clear on the effectiveness, the methods of the vaccine”, continues the historian. With an example from above: the first Israeli to be vaccinated is none other than the Prime Minister. Closely followed by other politicians, celebrities … “There is one last element in this success, which the French had undoubtedly neglected,” she adds. It is that countries are compared to each other. However, for this small country, appearing as the world champion in vaccination is a source of pride. »There is therefore a word of mouth which works: it is fast, fluid and we participate in the« national effort »…
A success that puts much ahead of the Prime Minister. “Everything becomes an event: for the delivery of the first Pfizer vaccines, Benjamin Netanyahou was on the tarmac to receive the first doses, says the historian. In addition, state media campaigns appear in the newspapers, on television, before the newspaper of 19 h where the head of the corona committee presents, supporting graphics , why this vaccine was so quick and answers questions. »
Remember that this country, which accounts for 310. cases and 3. 500 death since March , lives his third strict confinement. And that the 20 March 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu is playing for re-election. It would therefore be in his interest to be able to present the vaccination campaign as a success. “Today, everyone recognizes that he played his role, analyzes Frédérique Schillo. However, no one forgets that he is successful in this campaign because he benefits from the Labor heritage, which developed this Social Security. We will quickly talk about his liberal policy which broke hospitals. Before this crisis, Israel was at the bottom of the ranking for the number of beds… ”Of course, this campaign is not perfect. “ Palestinians have more difficulty accessing immunization ”, underlines Anne Sénéquier, doctor and co-director of the Health Observatory at Institute of International and Strategic Relations (Iris).
06. The success of # Israel is also 1 victory of the state over the government. The administration, its executives, the social security funds have proved to be formidably effective, while the government often took erratic decisions (3rd confinement!) # COVID 10
– Frédérique Schillo (@FredSchillo)
January 3, 2021
What -What differentiates France and Israel?
There are specificities that make this vaccination easier in this small country. “Nine million people in small, highly urbanized areas, the population is therefore easily accessible,” resumes Anne Sénéquier. The Israeli government has not hesitated to use military logistics which are both well established and well accepted since the majority of men and women have gone through military service. »
Another fundamental difference: mistrust. “Mistrust is much less in Israel than in France”, assures Anne Sénéquier. “When Netanyahu was vaccinated, there was a quarter of Israelis who did not want to be vaccinated, nuance the historian. And among those who were in favor, 24% of women did not want to be vaccinated right away. »
Can France be inspired by Israel?
No doubt, for Frédérique Schillo, France could look towards Israel to dust off its communication with spots educational advertisements to explain the importance of this vaccine. On the logistical side, our country seems to be making a recent about-face. For a long time, the government refused to open huge vaccinodromes, recalling the bad memory of the campaign against H1N1 where these places remained empty. But the government spokesperson Gabriel Attal assured Wednesday that France would acquire 96 vaccination centers in town , and will count 500 from here two weeks. “Israel, like the vast majority of the world, brought the population to the vaccine,” says Anne Sénéquier. In France, we bring the vaccine to vulnerable people. We are in the process of building an in-between, it’s interesting. The government could also authorize to vaccinate other caregivers: nurses, pharmacists, who moreover ask it.
For Anne Sénéquier, France could also be inspired of Israeli pragmatism. At the end of the day, if there are still doses (five per bottle), there is a waiting list for volunteers, but not priority. And everyone can also go there without an appointment. “It is relevant, it makes it possible to expand vaccination and avoid waste,” says Anne Sénéquier. And Frédérique Schillo with a smile: “We all heard this joke here about the pizza delivery man who passed in front of the vaccination center and who was able to get vaccinated …”