Israelis can start getting flu shots next week

Israel’s health funds will launch their flu vaccination campaigns for the coming winter next week, but this year the rollout will look different: Vaccines will arrive at clinics gradually throughout September and October rather than all at once because of an update of the flu strains included in the vaccine’s composition. Clalit, Israel’s largest health fund, has ordered more than 1 million injectable doses and another 25,000 nasal-spray vaccines. Last winter, about 980,000 Clalit patients were vaccinated, with the vaccination rate among those 65 and older at about 55%. Ronen Nudelman, Clalit’s deputy director general and head of its Community Division, said each shipment received would be distributed quickly to vaccination centers and clinics, and that the broad deployment would allow flexibility based on demand and the pace of deliveries.