It looks like Americans aren’t the only ones being forced to take “rushed” coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. Israel’s Ministry of Health has announced that citizens who take Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine will receive “green passports” so they can attend public events and eat at restaurants.

Get vaccinated to receive “free movement waivers”

Israel’s Ministry of Health told citizens that after they take Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, they will be given “free movement waivers.” With these waivers, inoculated Israelis can circumvent COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the “green passports” will only be issued after a person receives the second dose of the vaccine, which Israel will start rolling out by Dec. 27. At least 60,000 Israelis will receive the shot per day. (Related: U.K. announces that passports will soon include vaccine stamps.)

Chezy Levy, the Health Ministry’s Director-General explained that green passport holders can attend different events and dine in person at restaurants. They don’t need to quarantine themselves if they come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Additionally, vaccinated Israelis can travel abroad without undergoing the mandatory COVID-19 test before leaving the country. Green passport holders will be issued a separate international card before they can travel abroad.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein clarified that the idea behind the plan was not to grant privileges to the “green passport” holders. Rather, the plan can help ensure that vaccinated Israelis can take part in activities that may be dangerous for those who haven’t been inoculated.

Israel already received the first shipment of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. The Middle Eastern country has also signed contracts with Moderna and AstraZeneca to acquire their vaccines.

Strangely enough, recent polls have found that 50 to 75 percent of Israelis are unwilling to take the vaccines because they’re worried that they have been “rushed” and aren’t 100 percent safe for use.

Side effects of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine

Earlier this December the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) issued its first emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer-BioNTech’s new COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 16 years and older.

Under this EUA, the vaccine can now be distributed in America. The FDA issued this authorization after reviewing efficacy and safety data on the new vaccine.

Data from ongoing clinical trials suggest that “the known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks.”

Findings show that after two doses, the vaccine is 95 percent effective at preventing coronavirus. To date, research has also revealed that the vaccine has a good safety profile, so far.

Dr. Matthew Heinz, a hospitalist based in Tucson, Arizona, said that despite these findings, it’s still crucial to monitor patient health after immunization. Collecting data will help “make sure it stays that way,” added Heinz.

Despite the effectiveness and “good safety profile” of the vaccine, volunteers have experienced various minor and serious side effects after inoculation.

The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is administered in two doses, three weeks apart.

As of writing, safety data on the vaccine has been collected from 37,586 volunteers taking part in an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial. Out of all the participants, 18,801 have received the vaccine and 18,785 were given a placebo.

Researchers monitored volunteers for at least two months after inoculation.

Data showed that the most commonly reported side effect from the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is an injection site reaction. These reactions may cause some pain and other symptoms near the area where the vaccine was injected.

Heinz shared that some participants experienced side effects like mild swelling or firmness, redness and warmth around the site of the injection. Patients may also find it painful to move their arms.

Injection site reactions were reported by 84 percent of the volunteers who were given the vaccine.

Aside from an injection site reaction, other commonly reported side effects of the vaccine include fatigue, headache and muscle pain.

• Fatigue was reported by 63 percent of the participants who received the vaccine.
• Headache and muscle pain was reported by 55 and 38 percent of participants, respectively.

Some volunteers have also experienced other symptoms like chills, joint pain, or fever after getting vaccinated. They were more likely to report these symptoms after getting the second dose of the vaccine.