Amid a growing wave of measles infections across Israel, Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov spent Sunday visiting outbreak zones in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh, where he held meetings with senior municipal officials and community representatives, including prominent askanim from the neighborhoods of Meah Shearim, Geulah, and surrounding areas.
The visit was part of a broad national effort by the Health Ministry to contain and eradicate the spread of measles. During the tour, Bar Siman Tov also convened a meeting with the heads of all local authorities currently dealing with active outbreaks.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said, “During his visit to Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh, the Director-General spoke with community representatives and municipal professionals about strengthening cooperation between the Health Ministry, the Yerushalayim Municipality, and the local communities, in order to increase vaccination rates and protect the health of both children and adults.”
According to the statement, all participants emphasized “the urgent need to act swiftly and respond to the call to vaccinate, in order to prevent future deaths, reduce further illness, and limit the scale of the outbreak.”
Following the meetings, Bar Siman Tov underscored the importance of unity and swift action in combating the disease. “The fight against measles is a fight for our children’s lives,” he said. “This is a disease with a vaccine that is safe, effective, and lifesaving. We are working together — the Health Ministry, the Yerushalayim Municipality, the health funds, and the communities — to stop the outbreak, provide accurate information, and ensure that every child receives the protection they deserve.”
Later in the day, Bar Siman Tov also held a conference call with the directors of Israel’s major health funds to discuss additional measures to accelerate vaccination efforts and coordinate action among the various medical providers.
The Health Ministry once again urged parents to send their children for treatment and vaccination only at authorized clinics and hospitals, warning against unlicensed or informal medical setups.
Since the start of the current outbreak, vaccination rates have risen sharply:
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In Yerushalayim alone, more than 15,000 first-dose measles vaccines have been administered.
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In Beit Shemesh and Bnei Brak, an additional 12,000 first doses have been given.
{Matzav.com Israel}
