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Israel's big cities lead in the number of residents currently immune to coronavirus, with ultra-Orthodox and Arab sectors lagging due to low vaccination drive, a report published Sunday reveals.
The National Security Council report examined immunity achieved through both vaccination and recovery from COVID-19.
According to the data, 21.22% of Jerusalem’s residents are considered immune, some 193,000 residents, of whom 100,000 received the second dose of the vaccine and more than 93,000 recovered from the virus and developed antibodies.
This means about 10% of the capital's residents contracted the coronavirus at some point.
In Tel Aviv, 27.96% are defined as immune, with 109,131 receiving the second dose of the vaccine and 16,755 developing antibodies after recovery.
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People waiting in line to receive the coronavirus vaccine in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
In the northern city of Haifa, 31.65% of residents are considered immune, the highest tally in the country. About 75,000 residents received both vaccine doses and 11,521 recovered from the virus.
In Rishon Lezion, the immunity rate stands at 28.71%, with about 60,000 residents receiving both vaccine doses and 8,817 recovering from the virus.
In Petah Tikva, the immunity rate stands at 27.61%. There, over 53,000 residents received two doses of vaccine and 13,682 recovered from COVID.
In Ashdod, the immunity rate is at 26.63%, with 41,769 vaccinated and 18,170 recovering, while in Netanya and Be’er Sheva the immunity rates are 25.28% and 30.56% respectively.
In the Haredi city of Bnei Brak, where numerous violations of the coronavirus restrictions have recently been recorded, the immunity rate stands at 26.56%The majority, 37,217, recovered from the virus and 14,652 received the vaccine.
In the Haredi settlement of Modi'in Illit, the immunity rate is at 28.69%, with 2,477 vaccinated and 18,697 recoveries.
The lowest immunity rate appears to be in the predominantly-Arab city of Nazareth, where 18.25% of the residents are immune, with 7,845 vaccinated and 6,436 recovering.
Additional data shows that in the Haredi city of Beit Shemesh, the rate of immunity is at 20.6%, in Holon 29.21%, in Rehovot 26.28%, in Ashkelon 26.15%, in Ramla 22.82%, in Bat Yam 26.79% and in Lod 21.9%.
It is important to remember that in the ultra-Orthodox municipalities, the population is relatively young in relation compared to the national average, meaning many are not yet eligible to receive the shot.
The data further shows that in several municipalities, over 30% of the population already received two doses of the vaccine. Majority of them are small towns and communities: Omer, Lehavim, Tel Mond, Meitar, Kiryat Motzkin, Kiryat Tivon, Givat Avni, Kiryat Shmona, Ramat Hasharon, Kiryat Ono, Savyon, Kfar Vradim, Mevaseret Zion, Beit Yitzhak and Raanana.