Israel Hospitalizes 277 Amid Flu Outbreak, 15 in Intensive Care

Israel is experiencing a significant flu outbreak, with 277 people hospitalized, including 15 in intensive care units. The situation is compounded by a shortage of flu vaccines in some clinics and insufficient supply for all who wish to be vaccinated, despite the vaccination campaign having been underway for a month. One patient from the Clalit health fund reported being unable to book an appointment through the app, while an appointment was available for her toddler son on the same day. Health funds attribute the difficulties to delays in global vaccine supply, explaining that the World Health Organization approved the season's vaccine composition later than usual, which in turn delayed shipments to Israel. Additional vaccine shipments have recently arrived and are being distributed. Clalit states that 90% of its clinics have the vaccine, with full distribution expected soon. The Ministry of Health acknowledges temporary issues but assures that hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses are available in the country.

According to the National Center for Disease Control, 66 new cases of Influenza A were recorded among hospitalized patients in the week ending October 10. Since the season began, 277 hospitalized individuals have tested positive for the flu, comprising 221 adults and 54 children, including two pregnant women. Of the 15 patients in intensive care, 11 are adults and four are children. While flu cases are also rising in outpatient clinics, the overall infection rate remains below the epidemic threshold. As of October 11, only 4.1% of Israel's population, or 409,664 people, had been vaccinated. Vaccination rates are higher among those over 65 (16.7%) but very low among teenagers aged 13-18 (1%).

Israel is also using a high-dose vaccine for individuals over 65, designed to provide stronger protection due to age-related immune system weakening. Studies show this vaccine reduces the risk of confirmed flu by approximately 24% and hospitalizations for flu and pneumonia by nearly 9% in this age group. However, health funds have ordered a limited number of these high-dose vaccines for the entire season: Maccabi 15,000, Leumit 9,000, Clalit 8,000, and Meuhedet 5,500. This quantity is insufficient for a significant portion of the elderly population. Health funds cite the high cost of the enhanced vaccine, which is about four times more expensive than the standard one and not covered by the national health basket, as the reason for the low order numbers, leading to ongoing funding disputes with the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Health advises that while the high-dose vaccine is preferable for those over 65, people should not delay vaccination while waiting for it. Any available flu vaccine significantly reduces the likelihood of severe illness, complications, hospitalization, and death, urging early vaccination before cases increase further.