Health Ministery Director-General Prof. Chezi Levy told Army Radio on Sunday morning that Pfizer has halted deliveries of additional vaccines to Israel until new purchase agreements are signed.

Pfizer’s halt of vaccine shipments comes after Defense Minister Benny Gantz last week refused to convene the coronavirus cabinet for a meeting intended to approve a budget for the procurement of new vaccine doses.

Gantz’s refusal was due to his anger at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for refusing to hold a vote regarding the appointment of a new justice minister. Gantz’s term as interim justice minister expired last week and he insisted that he or another candidate be appointed as justice minister. The Likud refuses to do so, saying there is little reason to appoint another temporary minister prior to the formation of a new government.

“The delivery of vaccines included in the agreements that were not signed were halted,” Levy said. “Pfizer is expected to renew the supply only after the government will convene and approve the new procurement agreements.”

Last week, the Health Ministry published an announcement regarding the purchase of new vaccines. “We want to clarify, while maintaining Israel’s confidentiality agreements with the vaccine companies, that Israel has inventory only for the current vaccine round. There is an important need to purchase millions of additional vaccines to prepare for various scenarios such as booster doses, the vaccination of children over the age of 12 (after studies and the FDA approve it), and the possibility of vaccines that are resistant to variants.”

(AP)