Israel said Tuesday night that pediatric coronavirus vaccination campaign for children taking place at schools will end next week, having managed to inoculate only a small percentage of kids.
The vaccination in kindergartens and elementary schools, began two and a half weeks ago, with public health nurses diverted from administering routine vaccines, including measles, and rubella.
The Health Ministry said so far only 56,000 of schoolchildren in the 5-11 age group have been vaccinated, corresponding to 40%-50% of the student body.
According to Health Ministry's data, 41% of the children in the first grade have been vaccinated, 43.5% of the second grade, 46% of the third grade, 48% of the fourth grade, 51% of the fifth grade, and 52% of the sixth grade.
In middle schools, 62% of the children in the 7th grade have been vaccinated, and in high schools, some 70% of the students from eighth grade to senior classes have been jabbed.
The Education Ministry asked to extend the campaign for another week, in order to enable the Arab students who returned from winter break to get vaccinated as well.
According to an order from Health Ministry of Public Health chief Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, the pediatric vaccination campaign at schools will be discontinued not later than this coming Sunday, with the nurses able return to their routine activities.
First published: 09:34, 01.12.22