Clutching walking sticks, resting in wheelchairs or sitting on plastic chairs, Israeli retirees are lining up to join their country’s record-breaking coronavirus vaccination drive.
“I want to see my grandchildren,” said 90-year-old Boris Einbinder, shortly after receiving his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Resting beside his wife Mara in Pisgat Ze'ev, an Israeli settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, Mr Einbinder said since March they have only seen their six grandchildren from the balcony of their home.
The elderly couple are among nearly 1.4 million Israelis to have received the vaccine so far, accounting for around 15 per cent of the population and far surpassing any other nation.
At the Pisgat Ze’ev assisted living community, paramedics from Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency services set up their temporary clinic in a room which doubles as a bomb shelter. “Some people ask me how the vaccine is, if it’s ok,” said Fadi Dekaidek, an MDA paramedic who has worked on the public inoculation drive since it started last month.
“When they hear what I say, they accept taking the vaccine,” he added, putting the early success of the programme down to good governance.
Israel’s health ministry is in charge of the overall operation and sends MDA to care homes, while the emergency services also administer vaccines at some clinics.
The government has prioritised healthcare workers and the over-60s to receive the shot, but to minimise waste some leftover doses are being offered to the general public at the end of the day.
Like Israeli citizens, Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are entitled to receive the vaccine through their health insurance. Clinics in Palestinian neighbourhoods are administering vaccines, without the involvement of the emergency services.
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted on Tuesday that Israel was vaccinating its population “at a pace that is arousing the wonder of the entire world,” the situation is starkly different in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank including most cities, is yet to receive any doses.
It has applied to join Covax, a scheme backed by the World Health Organisation which will distribute vaccines to cash-strapped governments for 20 per cent of their population.
"The vaccine is expected to arrive at the end of February, beginning of March," Yaser Bozya, the PA's public health director, told The National.
The Palestinian health ministry is also awaiting a response from the makers of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, Mr Bozya said, which could potentially be rolled out to the wider Palestinian public.
Israel has been criticised for vaccinating their citizens living in West Bank settlements, while providing no such services to Palestinians living in areas either under full Israeli military rule or those governed by the PA.
In a joint statement last month, organisations including Amnesty International and Physicians for Human Rights Israel urged the authorities to “live up to their legal obligations and ensure that quality vaccines be provided to Palestinians”.
The Israeli health ministry did not respond to repeated requests to comment on why it would not provide vaccines to three million Palestinians in the West Bank, or two million Gazans who have lived under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
While the PA and Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, lack the funds to buy up stocks of the Pfizer shot, an Israeli health ministry official told local media his government had paid $62 per dose.
The figure shows Israel bought its initial eight million doses at a far higher cost than the European Union, which paid around $19 per shot according to a Reuters report.
The ability of countries such as Israel to buy up vaccine stocks has exposed vast global health inequalities, which could have a negative impact on the world’s ability to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.
“Even if you see beyond the justice and fairness aspects, I think it’s important from an infectious disease control perspective,” said Anna Mia Ekström, a clinical professor at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
“Because if the virus continues to circulate around the world, we can’t really stop this pandemic,” added the professor, a specialist in infectious disease epidemiology.
Further border closures, limits to international trade and new coronavirus variants are all possible if vaccines are not evenly distributed.
“At national levels, political leaders want to show their constituencies they are acting decisively,” said Ms Ekström. “It’s very short-sighted and quite egoistic to not try to act globally.”
While Mr Netanyahu has celebrated being “first in the world in vaccinations," Israel is planning on slowing down its programme to avoid running out of doses.
“We’ve been vaccinating a lot faster than we were expecting,” said Uriel Goldberg, an MDA spokesman, estimating the majority of Israelis would be vaccinated within a few months.
In the meantime, Israelis are living under a third nationwide lockdown and the government is due to discuss tightening measures this week as coronavirus cases rise.
In Pisgat Ze'ev, the elderly residents thanked medics after receiving their jab and will be back in three weeks to get their second and final dose.
“In a few months, the challenge will be those who don’t want to be vaccinated,” said Mr Goldberg.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EHayao%20Miyazaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Soma%20Santoki%2C%20Masaki%20Suda%2C%20Ko%20Shibasaki%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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RESULTS
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Meshakel, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner Gervais, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Global Heat, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Firnas, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
Winner Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Winner Wasim, Mickael Barzalona, Ismail Mohammed.
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Company%20Profile
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5