Neglected: Tens of thousands of reports of side effects from corona vaccine were ignored

The report highlights that while the majority of reports received by the Ministry of Health were regarding minor side effects such as chills and pain at the injection site, there were also more significant effects that warranted investigation. This included reports of menstrual disorders among women as well as reports of side effects among individuals over the age of 12 who received the vaccine. Notably, the Ministry did not process and analyze all 33,000 reports received from the general public regarding side effects in 2021.

The report details the vaccination rates in Israel, noting that initially, there was a sharp increase in the number of people receiving two doses of the vaccine. However, by the end of November 2022, the vaccination rate had moderated, with fewer people opting for the third dose compared to the initial two doses. The report also highlights discrepancies in vaccination rates among different demographic groups, with lower rates among certain communities.

Furthermore, the audit revealed shortcomings in the Ministry of Health’s computerized systems, which failed to capture critical information from a significant number of reports of side effects from the corona vaccine. This led to an incomplete investigation of side effects, with some cases not receiving the attention they warranted. The Ministry also faced challenges in processing reports from the general public and implementing vaccination campaigns in schools.

In response to the report, the Ministry of Health defended its handling of the epidemic, noting that the vaccines had saved lives and transformed the pandemic into a preventable and treatable disease. The Ministry emphasized its transparency in reporting side effects, highlighting its efforts to address reports of side effects in real-time and improve the reporting system. Despite the challenges outlined in the report, the Ministry expressed pride in its vaccination campaign and efforts to protect public health.