For media-obsessed Benjamin Netanyahu, being first in line to receive the coronavirus vaccine was an opportunity the Israeli prime minister was never going to turn down.

With March elections fast approaching, global headlines paying tribute to the pace of Israels vaccine rollout could prove to be the perfect antidote to persuade voters to forget about Netanyahus corruption trial , and the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

I have brought the vaccines and you are giving the vaccines, Netanyahu told health workers at a clinic in an Arab town in northern Israel as he implored residents to get the shot. The whole world is amazed at Israel. They are writing that Israel is a wonder.

In just over two weeks, the country has given first shots of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to more than 1.5 million people almost 20% of the population and more than 70% of citizens aged 60 or older. Thats the highest level in the world on a per capita basis, according to Our World in Data .

Now, because of its advanced position, scientists believe Israel will provide a priceless global preview into the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Israels strategy

Israel fired the starting gun on its campaign on Dec. 19, with vaccinations now being administered in 300 specialist centers . The countrys free public health system offers appointments by text message.

The head of Britains National Health Service, Simon Stevens, said on Thursday that Israels high vaccination rates were at least in part due to its decision to conduct more injections at larger centers.

With infrastructure and logistics among the most advanced in the world and a highly trained military managing distribution, Israel has also benefited from a relatively high population density. The countrys 9 million people are easier to reach, allowing faster vaccine deployment.

Israels population is relatively small compared to the U.S., France and U.K. The vaccine doses delivered daily by Pfizer are more than sufficient, and Israel distributes each dose quickly to optimize supplies.