1.
When the Haredi system began receiving 10 inquiries about failures in updating vaccinations in the Ministry of Health's 'Nahlieli' system, as well as inquiries from those who tried to obtain a 'green passport' and found that they were not registered in the system, and those who came to their health insurance fund to receive a second vaccination and found that the first had not yet been registered - I contacted the Ministry of Health and asked: Is it possible?
The Ministry of Health contacted the Ichilov Medical Center, which performed the vaccinations in question - and they came back to me with a sweeping denial. "They vehemently deny it," I was told.
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So I wasn't lazy. I collected case by case, a full name with an ID, and I contacted Ichilov myself.
But first, a few stories, a sample of many. We will skip the names of the yeshivahs and seminars, as well as the names of the individuals with whom we spoke.
""On Thursday, February 11, I was vaccinated at the yeshiva by a team from Ichilov Hospital. 21 days later, that is, tomorrow, I am supposed to receive a second vaccination (Ichilov informed us that they intend to arrive on time, to the yeshiva and seminars, and to ensure a second vaccination. They also contacted a representative from each institution that coordinates the notification to students for them). However, I will not be at the yeshiva tomorrow for a personal family reason. So I went to the cashier and asked to receive a second vaccination through them. 'Second vaccination?' They were surprised. 'We do not have a record of you receiving a first vaccination at all.'".
Another testimony: "On Sunday, February 14th, I was vaccinated at a seminar where I am studying with a team from Ichlov. I reported to the team that it was a second vaccination, and that I had somehow obtained the first one at the counter. They wrote this detail down on a sheet of paper. More than a week ago, even before Purim, I was already eligible to receive a green passport. I myself don't have a computer at home, but I asked someone who did. They tried to issue one - and the system wouldn't issue the document. I realized that it wasn't recorded that I had received the vaccination. I went to the counter where I am a member, and there was no record there that I had received a second vaccination. In short, I was stuck.".
Another complaint: "I received my first vaccination at the yeshiva, on Thursday, February 11th. I went to the cashier this morning to get a certificate for my first vaccination, so that I could receive a second vaccination tomorrow. They produced a strange document for me, which stated that I had already received... the second vaccination as well, a week ago, on the 25th of the month. How did I receive a second vaccination two weeks after the first? It's unclear. And how was it recorded when I received it, when I hadn't even gotten the second vaccination yet?".
With this specific case, by the way, we also contacted the handling fund - 'Maccabi', as there is a possibility that the failure stems from an error in their system.
So far we have not received their response. When it arrives, it will be published.
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2.
So there are no failures?
We contacted the Ichilov spokeswoman, who immediately admitted to us that they were aware that there were errors in transferring the data from the paperwork to the Nahliali computer system - the Ministry of Health's system for documenting those vaccinated.
Several things were said in praise of the hospital:
• Kudos to the hospital for taking the initiative to vaccinate populations and groups in their home compound. Nursing homes, seminars, yeshivas, Rabin Square, foreign workers, and more.
• The treatment of the Haredim 10's request was certainly respectful, and thanks to Dr. Esti Sage for investing the time in a detailed explanation, including providing a phone number through which anyone who encounters a problem can contact Ichilov directly, update them, and receive a response. In other words, they are aware of this - and also respect that Haredim generally do not have a fax/email/WhatsApp to contact them in a way other than by phone.
• There is no doubt that the 'spirit of the commander', CEO Prof. Roni Gamzo, is present in all employees at the hospital and led to the important operation that they initiated and led. The operation was stopped, by the way, according to the hospital, by order of the Ministry of Health.
Regarding the failures themselves.
It was not easy to launch a vaccination campaign in yeshivahs and seminars. On the one hand, criticism was leveled as to "why can't they go to the health insurance funds like the rest of Israel and get vaccinated." On the other hand, some warned of demonstrations by extremists, and yes, there was a request from the yeshivahs for a male-only team and from the seminars for a female-only team.
""Recruiting a female team was easier, recruiting an all-male team was more difficult," explains Dr. Esti Sage. The team, including those who document the administration of vaccines, had names and ID card numbers. Sometimes, by the way, it was necessary to pull in brothers from the various departments.
But the hospital picked up the gauntlet and made the move.
3.
But here, we have reached a failure: they vaccinated, recorded manually (in 'Tze'alach', (as one of the yeshiva boys defined it) - and they left.
Dr. Esti Sage: "When the team returned from the field, we assigned people whose job was to transfer the data to the 'Nahaliali' system. Here and there, there was unclear handwriting, which made it difficult to decipher. I received inquiries and I personally handle them. My office manager was authorized for this purpose. I enter Nahaliali, and when there are deficiencies and discrepancies, I contact a person, who makes corrections and documents on the spot. Within a short time, we receive a SIMS from the Ministry of Health and know that everything is in order.".
She admits: "The hospital treated tens of thousands, we came with the goal of doing good, there may have been technical glitches along the way." And promises: "Everyone who is eligible to receive a second vaccine will receive it, everyone who is eligible for a vaccination certificate will receive it, everyone who had a glitch in updating their details will be treated.".
So it's a bit funny that in the State of Israel, in 2021, at a huge medical center in Tel Aviv, thousands of vaccines were given and recorded in a 'Tse'alach' (again, we emphasize, the intention was good).
If you were vaccinated at a meeting or seminar, don't be complacent: check with your health insurance company to see if someone has updated that you were vaccinated. If you are eligible for a 'green passport' - don't wait. Try to print it out and if you didn't succeed - take care of it, you probably wrote it in cursive and your details fell through the cracks.
Here is the phone number - 036974730 - that Dr. Sage gave you. Call only after Sunday (the hope is that by then all the problems will be addressed), they will answer you - and keep you updated.
Didn't answer? Answered and you weren't treated? That's what we're here for.
