image Photo: COGAT, Flash90

COGAT helps deliver first vaccines to PA

Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) facilitated the passage of the initial shipment of coronavirus vaccinations to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The delivery also marks the first time the Palestinians have received vaccinations of any kind, despite having signed an agreement with Russia for the Sputnik V.

The Israeli government donated 2,000 doses of the Moderna Inc. vaccine.

According to a statement TV7 obtained from COGAT, the decision to supply the PA with the vaccine was approved “by the political echelon, in accordance with recommendations from the Israeli Minister of Defense and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories for the use of medical teams under the Palestinian Authority.”

Moreover, the shipment of the vaccine against the coronavirus is the first of a total 5,000 doses approved by the Israeli government.

COGAT supervised the transfer of the vaccine doses through the Beituniya Crossing from Israel into the West Bank yesterday.

There have been 1,849 confirmed deaths of COVIC-19 in the Palestinian territories. COGAT has undertaken many efforts to help curb the pandemic in the West Bank.

When asked for comment by the Reuters news agency, Palestinian officials declined to confirm or deny the Israeli delivery.