An Israeli woman receives the vaccine at a vaccination center in Tel Aviv, Israel on January 6, 2021. -

Sebastian Scheiner / AP / SIPA

  • Israel hopes to vaccinate 2 million people (out of 9 million) by the end of January. 

  • A success scrutinized abroad which is based on anticipation to vaccinate as quickly as possible, efficient logistics and strong communication. 

  • Could France, much criticized for its slowness, be inspired by it?

    To a certain extent only, since the two countries are very different. 

Critics keep raining down on the government for its very slow vaccination campaign.

And some eyes are turning internationally.

If our German neighbors, who have already vaccinated more than 230,000 people are also paying the price for some admonitions, there is one country that stands out for its speed: Israel.

How Israel conducts its vaccine policy?

Indeed, since December 19, the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered to Israeli citizens in 300 vaccination centers.

Those of Moderna arrive this same Thursday.

The country therefore hopes to have vaccinated 2 million citizens by the end of January.

Statista chart on vaccine champion countries.

- Statista

“The success of the campaign is based on three pillars: anticipation, fluidity of logistics and communication, summarizes Frédérique Schillo,

historian specializing in Israel who lives 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 60, people at risk, teachers, caregivers and airport workers are contacted based on their Social Security number by text message 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 solidity of the labor system [which built the Social Security system] and the modernity of the start-up nation: everything is digital, 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.

"So there is word of mouth that works: it's fast, fluid and we participate in the" national effort "...

A success that the Prime Minister puts forward a lot.

"Everything becomes an event: for the delivery of the first Pfizer vaccines, Benjamin Netanyahu was on the tarmac to receive the first doses," says the historian.

In addition, state media campaigns run in the newspapers, on television, before the 8 p.m. newspaper where the head of the corona committee presents, supporting graphics, why this vaccine was so fast and answers questions.

"

Remember that this country, which has recorded 460,000 cases and 3,500 deaths since March, is experiencing its third strict confinement.

And that on March 23, 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu plays his 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 vaccination," said Anne Sénéquier, doctor and co-director of the Health Observatory at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (Iris). 

10. The success of # Israel is also the state's victory over the government.

The administration, its executives, the social security funds have proved to be formidably efficient, while the government took often erratic decisions (3rd containment!) # COVID19

- Frédérique Schillo (@FredSchillo) January 3, 2021

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, 40% of women did not want to be vaccinated right away.

"

But can France take inspiration from Israel?

No doubt, for Frédérique Schillo, France could look to Israel to dust off its communication with educational advertising spots 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 government spokesman Gabriel Attal assured Wednesday that France would set up 100 vaccination centers in town, and will have 500 within 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 request it.

For Anne Sénéquier, France could also draw inspiration from 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 have 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 ..."

World

Vaccination in Israel: The country targets two million vaccinated at the end of January

Health

Coronavirus: But why is the vaccination campaign starting so slowly in France?

  • Coronavirus

  • Covid 19

  • Society

  • France

  • Israel

  • Vaccine

  • Vaccination

  • Health