Israel begins human testing of its Covid-19 vaccine

• Direct Latest news of the coronavirus

• Trials. Trip to the Chinese city where they put the coronavirus vaccine for 50 euros

Coinciding with the second phase of the de-escalation after more than a month of confinement, Israel this Sunday began testing its coronavirus vaccine in humans.

According to the director of the Biological Research Institute, Professor Shmuel Shapira, it

.

"This is a historic moment. We are now starting a crucial stage," he says, expressing his confidence in the success of the vaccine called BriLife, a combination of the first part of the word 'Briut' (health, in Hebrew), ' iL '(abbreviation for Israel) and' Life '(life, in English).

"Although it is a small contribution, I am satisfied to participate in a process that gives hope to end this virus. It is a great honor to be part of this great project," said Segev Harel (26) after becoming the first volunteer of the essays.

Harel, who after receiving the vaccine at Sheba Hospital (near Tel Aviv), will be able to return to his Kibbutz in the north of the country this Monday, said he feels physically well and hopeful in the fight against Covid-19.

.

Currently, 415 people are in serious condition out of a total of 10,743 active patients in a country of more than nine million inhabitants.

The second test was performed today at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

The volunteer, Anar Ottolenghi, is 34 years old and studying for a doctorate in Immunology.

According to Professor Yossi Caraco from Hadassah Hospital, "Scientists at the Israel Biological Research Institute developed an incredible vaccine that has options to be safe and effective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus."

In the first phase of the clinical trials in the two aforementioned hospitals, 80 people, aged between 18 and 55 years old, will participate.

Starting in December, the test circle will be expanded to 960 people - older - in eight medical centers.

.

Out of every three people, one will receive a placebo.

Later, and if all goes well, the health authorities will give the green light for its massive use.

"The real way out of the coronavirus crisis is the development of the vaccine. That is why today is a very important day that gives us an injection of encouragement," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after speaking with volunteer Harel in Sheba Hospital.

He also reiterated that he will take advantage of his contacts in the international sphere so that Israel is among the first to receive the vaccine when it is approved in other countries.

"What really matters is that, either through the development of the vaccine here or through the one we bring in from abroad, we will be able to have enough vaccines for all the citizens of Israel. Then we can finally free ourselves from the epidemic," he added before clarifying: "

."

The Ness Ziona Biological Research Institute in central Israel belongs to the Defense Ministry whose head, Benny Gantz, expressed "cautious optimism" about the success of the vaccine in a message on Twitter attaching a photo with Harel.

"We see interest in our work from other countries and we are preparing to provide vaccines to our neighbors, including the West Bank and Gaza," said Shapira a few days ago at the biological center that has been working on the vaccine for eight months and

.

In March, its scientists began experiments with animals (in mice and later in pigs) and a week ago they received regulatory authorization to test in humans.

De-escalated

After entering a new confinement in mid-September to contain the unleashed second wave of the virus,

(20 students per class, four days a week, obligation of wear a mask, entry allowed only to teachers and students) of half a million children (6 to 9 years old), in addition to the youngest who have been attending kindergartens for two weeks.

The rest of the schoolchildren follow the classes at a distance.

Likewise, from this Sunday, the centers of worship (with a maximum of 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors), hairdressers, beauty salons and driving schools can reopen, while weddings and organized walks are allowed although with a limited capacity.

So far, the Israeli cabinet has not authorized the resumption of cultural events or the opening of shopping malls and street shops, prompting

.

In many cases, the continued closure has led to the demise of small stores.

The Ministry of Finance demands its opening this Tuesday and not, as planned, next Sunday.

The Minister of Health, Yuli Edelstein, refuses and warns that the de-escalation without limitations could lead to a "third closure".

Faced with criticism for having carried out a too rapid and uncontrolled de-escalation in May and for being the first country to apply a second lockdown, Netanyahu recalls that it is a pandemic that hits the whole world, citing countries that have announced general closures in recent days. .

Faced with the drastic reduction in infections

.

The opposition in Parliament replies that "having to return to the closure is not a success but a failure of management at all levels."

Under the health and economic crisis caused by the virus, Israel is also experiencing moments of great political and social tension with weekly demonstrations against Netanyahu and major clashes in the fragile unity government formed in May between the conservative leader and the centrist Blue and White bloc led by Gantz.

In addition, Netanyahu will have to face the crucial phase of the trial in three cases of alleged corruption from January.

All of this suggests that the call for new elections will come before the massive use of BriLife.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• Science and Health

• Coronavirus

• Covid 19

• Infectious diseases

• Respiratory diseases

• Vaccinations

• Israel

Boticaria GarcíaWho should get the flu vaccine and why this year is more important than ever

Health Am I a candidate for the flu vaccine?

Immunization Trip to the Chinese city where they put the coronavirus vaccine for 50 euros

See links of interest

• News

• Translator

• Programming

• Films

• Topics

• 1. FC Köln - FC Bayern München

• DSC Arminia Bielefeld - Borussia Dortmund

• Eintracht Frankfurt - SV Werder Bremen

• FC Augsburg - 1. FSV Mainz 05

• Alavés - Barcelona, ​​live