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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider More than 30,000 OFWs, diplomats, students receive free COVID-19 jabs in Israel

More than 30,000 OFWs, diplomats, students receive free COVID-19 jabs in Israel

Published Mar 17, 2021 01:08 pm

More than 30,000 overseas Filipinos, including migrant workers, students, Philippine Embassy staff, and even those with expired working permits, have benefitted from the highly successful coronavirus vaccination program of the State of Israel, the Embassy of Israel in Manila announced Wednesday.

(Photo by MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz said the inclusion of Filipinos in Israel’s mass vaccination program was their way of thanking the Filipinos for their contributions to their health care system, especially for the caring of the elderly.

“Israel is thankful for the Filipino caregivers for helping the elderly and the disabled Israeli citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak. For many years, the Israeli government has been providing the Filipino caregivers with full access to the advanced medical services of our country,” Harpaz said in a statement.

Israel has become the envy of many countries and a world leader in COVID-19 vaccination after it has already vaccinated more than five million of its 9.3 million total population. Israel has already vaccinated 5.2 million people. A total of 4.2 million People have received both shots of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Harpaz said Israel’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has vaccinated for free anyone who is in Israel regardless of citizenship status or whether or not the person has insurance.

He said approximately 30,000 Filipino caregivers, 400 Agriculture students, and Philippine Embassy staff have received the jabs.

"The free access to COVID-19 vaccine is another way of thanking them and ensuring their health and safety,” the Israeli envoy said, adding that Israel always takes good care of the Filipinos caregivers especially during the pandemic.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Israel has granted significant assistance to the Philippines to help in the fight against COVID-19. It has turned over donations consisting of personal protective equipment to the Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police for use of their frontliners.

Several sets of learning aid equipment were also donated to the Department of Education to assist the agency in implementing distance learning during the pandemic.

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