Palestinian Authority steps up Covid-19 vaccinations with help from WHO, Russia and Israel

Health Ministry received 10,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine on Thursday and plans are being made to send shots to Gaza

A health worker in Bethlehem receives a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine on February 3, 2021. AP

The Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry began vaccinations for frontline medical workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic, after receiving 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine from Israel.

An additional 10,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine arrived on Thursday.

Priority is being given to medical teams in intensive care units, as the first line of defence against the virus, the ministry said.

The health workers were given the Moderna vaccine after the ministry received 2,000 doses on Monday.

The elderly and people with chronic illnesses will be next to be inoculated, the ministry said.

The ministry will receive another 5,000 doses of the Sputnik vaccine in the coming days, as well as 37,000 vaccine doses from the World Health Organisation's Covax programme, Palestinian Health Minister Mai Al Kaila said.

The ministry confirmed that the Palestinian Authority bought doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with a shipment to arrive soon.

Dr Shadi Al Laham, general director of Bethlehem Health Centre, was vaccinated on Wednesday.

"To take the vaccine was like a dream for us, as a medical team who were on the front line since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic," Dr Al Laham, 44, told The National.

“We were living with worry and constant fear of getting infected by the virus, especially because a lot of our colleagues were infected.

“This will protect us and help us keep providing our services to our nation.”

His medical team will receive a second dose after 28 days.

“If I get the chance to take the vaccine I will take it, because the nature of my work puts me in danger,” said Ayssar Al Barghoty, 33, a nurse from Ramallah.

“I think the first and only way to face coronavirus will be by receiving the vaccine. A lot of countries started vaccinating their citizens and no negative side effects were reported."

But Hussain Ramadan, 30, an ambulance driver from Ramallah, was more hesitant.

“I am not going to take the vaccine now," he said.

Mr Ramadan said he had concerns about the safety of the Sputnik vaccine.

“I am worried about the Russian vaccine in particular, there are a lot of people and elderly who refuse to take the vaccine also," he said.

"A lot of countries refused to take the Russian vaccine, this raises question marks for me.

“Instead, I will keep my protective procedures to guard myself from the virus and keep wearing the face mask all the time."

Deliveries of vaccine doses to the Gaza Strip are planned within the next two days, health official Dr Majdi Dahir said.

"About 300 to 500 doses are expected to arrive in Gaza today or tomorrow from the doses already delivered to the PA," Dr Dahir told The National.

“We are waiting for more doses some time in the middle of this month.

“The medical teams, elderly and those with chronic illness will be the first group to receive the vaccine."

Dr Dahir said that Gaza residents who wanted to be vaccinated could register on the My Health app, which was launched on Monday.

“About 2,500 residents registered until now through the app and the number is increasing,” Dr Dahir said.