How did Israel get a contract for a large, early supply of the Pfizer vaccine in the coming months when other countries couldn’t?

Fascinating and important column by @Nadav_Eyal. My paraphrase... https://twitter.com/nadav_eyal/status/1344910024787845122

First, it’s not because Israel was willing to pay more. Everybody’s willing to pay more. Vaccines are very cheap compared to lockdowns and mass testing.

Second, it’s not because Netanyahu appealed to the “Jewish heart” of the Pfizer CEO. (Netanyahu hinted publicly that this was the reason.) The head of Pfizer can’t make decisions on millions of doses of vaccine based on sentimental reasons.

The reason is that Netanyahu and senior health ministry officials convinced Pfizer that Israel has the healthcare infrastructure, including its computer infrastructure, to deliver the vaccine more efficiently than even European countries could.

Pfizer in effect chose Israel as its pilot program. Israel signed a contract to buy from Pfizer exclusively, at a good price and early delivery. (It had already bought some doses from Moderna, to be delivered in March.) Israel will be the showcase for the Pfizer vaccine.

I think it’s clear that Israel’s pitch to Pfizer was justified. By the end of today, 10% of Israel’s population will have been vaccinated, including more than 30% of its age 60+ population.

Currently Israel is vaccinating more than 1.5% of its population each day.

Hebrew readers can read the original here. Skip to the heading
למה דווקא אנחנו

All that said, people are still saying there may be a two-week supply shortfall starting in a week or so. If that happens, first doses would be paused for two weeks. (Second doses are reserved.)

Also that should have been “including more than 40% of its age 60+ population”: < https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-reaches-1-million-mark-in-vaccinations-far-outpacing-rest-of-world/> https://twitter.com/rongwrong_/status/1344932806569431040

CORRECTION: Pfizer offered an exclusive contract but Israel rejected that offer. I misread that part. Thank you for pointing that out! https://twitter.com/ymazover/status/1345779304500785153