Some notes on Coronavirus vaccination in Israel.

About one-fourth of the population of Israel has received at least the first of two doses. The rate of vaccination in Israel is about 8 times greater then the USA, and 50 times the world average. The government's stated goal is to vaccinate the entire population (9.3 million people) by the end of March.

One week after receiving the second dose, Israelis will be issued "green passports", which will enable them to travel abroad, participate in one-time events where they would mingle with people, go into restaurants, and avoid quarantine after exposure to a person infected by the COVID-19 virus. The immunity passport expires after 6 months, but I gather that it will be renewable. Similar immunity passports are under consideration in the UK, Estonia, Italy, and Chile.

Israel has an agreement with Pfizer, a multinational manufacturer of one of the vaccines, to share medical and statistical information about Israelis; and the CEO of Pfizer has promised to speed up deliveries to Israel in the weeks ahead. Coincidentally, Pfizer has told European countries and Canada that they will temporarily reduce deliveries of vaccine. The company said the reduction will be temporary, as their manufacturing plant in Belgium "is scaling up production".