Covid-19: Israel begins vaccination campaign among young people aged 16 to 18
Audio 01:06
A young Israeli receiving a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on January 23, 2021 © AFP / JACK GUEZ
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3 min
This week, the Israeli health authorities opened the vaccination to 16-18 year olds.
There are two reasons for this decision: first, to allow the youngest to pass their baccalaureate, then to facilitate their entry into the army, since military service is compulsory in the country.
Report at Pais Arena, the Jerusalem sports hall, transformed into a vaccination center.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
The calls echoed under the dome of the Pais Arena, it is Adim, 17, to be vaccinated against the Covid-19: "
I would like to go back to school and return to normal life.
What I miss the most are my friends, my social life and driving lessons
.
"
More than a quarter of the population vaccinated
Adim is a minor, to be vaccinated he needs the permission of his parents.
It is his mother Noémie, who accompanies him.
“
The school year started on September 1 and since then I believe that Adim has only been to school for ten days.
I find that it is not normal for a young person of his age to spend his days alone, in front of his computer, without social life, without contact and without seeing his teachers
, complains Noémie.
Moreover, he is passing his baccalaureate this year, so this situation is really not normal
”.
Like Noémie, Shirli, mother of a family, also came with her two boys: "
My eldest son must be vaccinated, because he enters the army to continue his studies
".
Israel has already vaccinated more than a quarter of its population.
By now including teenagers, the authorities hope to quickly reopen high schools.
►Also read: Vaccination of Palestinians: Amnesty denounces "institutionalized discrimination"
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