Lockdown exit to be gradual, according to Health Ministry sources; 1,870,652 people have received their first vaccine shot as second Moderna shipment expected this week

Iran's supreme leader had said importing shots from US or UK was prohibited: 'It's not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations'

Move would reverse Trump approach, which saw officials hold back supply to guarantee that people could get 2nd shot

Some 100,000 doses included in shipment, with further doses from the US biotech firm expected to reach the country next week

93,000 people inoculated Wednesday, down from daily highs of 150,000; following up a Pfizer dose with a Moderna one may be allowed in extreme cases; 5% of population have had COVID

Sharon Alroy-Preis says unclear what impact vaccination has on COVID variant, but says it may offer less protection against mutation

Top immunologists on how the mass inoculation drive has taken on fresh urgency as new strains spread globally

First shipment of vaccine set to arrive Thursday after the Jewish state, pushing ahead with inoculation campaign, approved it earlier this week

Contradicting his own ministry, Edelstein says he doesn't know about earlier shipments, though US-based firm said doses would arrive this month; calls to tighten lockdown now

Report says while pharma professionals back prioritizing nation to use it as a proving ground, board members fear anger in other markets will eventually hurt sales