Israel has so far spent about NIS 2.6 billion (approx. $790 million) for the procurement of some 15 million coronavirus vaccines, a Finance Ministry official said Tuesday.
The official told a hearing of the Knesset Finance Committee that the state is expected to spend another NIS 2.5 billion to purchase another round of vaccines should they be needed during the summer.
The "green pass" issued to Israelis who have received both doses of the vaccine is only valid for six months.
If its calculations are correct, the country will need another 5 million doses to fully vaccinate the rest of the adult population as well as the Palestinian and foreign laborers that work in Israel, which would cost around NIS 900 million.
At present, 57% of the adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 47% have received both.
The Knesset panel headed by United Torah Judaism leader MK Moshe Gafni met on Tuesday to approve an additional NIS 2 billion for the Health Ministry and the vaccination drive.
Sources close to Gafni said that the official presented the numbers after pressure was placed on the Prime Minister's Office as this data was classified.
The Knesset panel met on Tuesday to approve an additional NIS 2 billion for the Health Ministry in its efforts to combat the pandemic and the national vaccination drive.
Some NIS 1.3 billion was set aside for the continued operation of testing facilities, the track and trace mechanisms, quarantines, nursing homes and educational facilities.
Another NIS 264 million was earmarked for Israel's four health funds to pay for medical procedures, hotlines, testing, expanding services for the elderly and mental health services.
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Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stand next to a shipment of Pfizer vaccines as they arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport, Jan. 2021
(Photo: GPO)
The committee also said that some NIS 185 million was set for liaising with the vaccine producers, NIS 93 million was allocated to the IDF's track and tracing apparatus and NIS 82 million has been set aside for all the vaccine drive's logistical needs including security, manpower and training.
Finance Minister Israel Katz approved the first purchase of vaccines for Israel in fall 2020. - Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit approved the purchase as Israel did not have a serving accountant general at the time.
Reports later emerged that Israel paid double the going price for the first vaccine shipments, while a Treasury source said that later supplies were cheaper.