Edelstein: "Surprised, the same miracle we all dreamed of is happening to us""

March 14, 2021   

The vaccination campaign in Israel has become a world-renowned success: Health Minister Yuli Aldstein spoke with Golan Yochpaz and Anat Davidov on 103FM about the success of the operation - and stated: "We have very encouraging data. The same miracle that we all dreamed of is happening to us - the miracle of vaccinations. More than five million good people came and got vaccinated, and thanks to this step, we are where we are now. There is no reason to assume that there will be a lockdown until Passover.". In Israel, speeding is the norm: Why do we drive fast? He noted: "It's a great privilege to be number one in the world in vaccinations, but it also has a small problem: I have no one to ask, and the whole world asks me questions like what happens when only half of the population is vaccinated. We have no one to ask, and we're learning as we go.". In response to the question of whether the prime minister is not obsessed with the electronic bracelets, Edelstein said: "The prime minister helps in every way he can, but even he does not always manage to overcome all the democratic obstacles that stand in our way. As if these bracelets were our invention. This is a necessary attempt to control entry into Israel and ensure that they maintain proper isolation.". Regarding Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, he said that he was "proud that they chose Israel as a partner, and that we are meeting their expectations. All of these things only add to my pride." Regarding those who believe that Israel is a kind of "guinea pig" for vaccines, Edelstein said: "I wish they would take a tranquilizer and live with it in peace. There is no reason to think that there is any problem with the vaccines. Millions of people around the world have been vaccinated and we cannot assume that there is a danger here." Edelstein also addressed the CEO's words, who announced that he would work with any prime minister elected in Israel, and said: "He is telling the truth, but don't forget just one small detail - just a few weeks ago we were involved in a clear and immediate danger that the European Union would stop all production of the vaccine on its territory, and we will be in a 'vaccine war' in the coming years. It is desirable that the calls to Bourla come from the same Benjamin Netanyahu, who is both experienced and in touch with him and has proven to him that he is in touch with him and stands by his word." In response to the question of whether he would consider canceling the mask requirement in public due to the vaccination campaign, he said: "I would not recommend canceling masks outside. Those who will remove the masks will be those people who have not been vaccinated who flout the instructions and are looking to do harm at any moment. We have more than a million people who are immunizable and have not come to be vaccinated, and we have 2.5 million children who are not guilty of anything, so in this situation I see no reason to take off the masks, it will only increase the incidence. We simply do not yet have permission to vaccinate children. I estimate that this will happen within a few months." Regarding the Yehuda Meshi Zahav affair, he said: "Like everyone else, it hurts a lot. I know him on the side of important actions. We need to check if there are complaints and if there are actions that have occurred. I have no way of knowing the details of the case. I am as shocked as everyone else, but we will wait and see how this story ends.".