Israel, World's No.1 in Vaccination Rate, Faces Growing Vaccine Hesitancy Among Arab Residents

Second Dose Vaccination Rate Surpasses 50%... Herd Immunity in Sight
40% of Arab Residents Unvaccinated... Higher Severe Case Rate

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In Israel, where more than 50% of the entire population has received at least two doses of the vaccine and herd immunity is becoming visible, vaccine hesitancy among Arab residents is intensifying, causing concern for health authorities. With the Islamic holy month of Ramadan approaching, there are also concerns about a potential surge in COVID-19 cases centered around the Arab population.

According to local media such as the Times of Israel on the 8th (local time), there are approximately 989,000 adults aged 16 and over in Israel who have not received a single dose of the vaccine, of which about 40%, or approximately 382,000, are Arab. As a result, Israel, which is ranked first in the world for vaccination rates and is considered to have achieved visible herd immunity, is reportedly struggling to increase vaccination rates among Arab residents.

According to Israeli health authorities, the estimated proportion of the population with immunity formed through vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 infection is only 68% among Arabs, which is below the national average of 84%. The ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, known for resisting health measures and avoiding vaccination, reportedly has a higher immunity rate of 70% compared to the Arab population.

Arabs make up about 21% of Israel's population. Israeli health authorities have not specifically identified the reasons for vaccine hesitancy among Arabs, but they believe that concerns about long-term safety, along with the influence of conspiracy theories and fake news spread through social media, play a significant role.

Arab residents with low vaccination rates also show higher COVID-19 positivity rates. While Israel’s average positivity rate relative to the number of tests has recently dropped to around 3-4% alongside rising vaccination rates, the rate among Arabs is about 13-14%, and in some Arab-majority cities, it reportedly approaches 20%. Additionally, the proportion of severe cases among Arab residents is also high. According to the Times of Israel, Arabs account for nearly 50% of all severe COVID-19 cases in Israel.

With Ramadan, the largest Islamic holiday, beginning early next month, concerns about COVID-19 cluster infections among Arab residents are growing. Dr. Zahi Saeed, an advisor to Clalit, Israel’s largest healthcare maintenance organization (HMO), warned, "Although vaccination rates are increasing, they remain low among Arabs. This is due to fake news spreading like wildfire on social media." He added, "Ramadan is approaching. We hope that as more people get vaccinated, we will avoid a disaster."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.