Israel Will start to provide the third shot Pfizer vaccine For people over 60 years old-this is the first effort in the world to slow the spread of highly contagious delta Variants.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who initiated the campaign, said that on Friday, President Isaac Herzog will be the first to gain support.
Israel is the world leader in vaccination, and many elderly people are vaccinated in December, January and February because they are considered the most vulnerable part of the population.
However, since the emergence of the Delta variant, the Ministry of Health has twice reported that the vaccine’s anti-infective efficacy has decreased, and its protection against serious diseases has slightly decreased.
Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, the booster campaign managed by the health maintenance organization will effectively turn Israel into a testing ground for the third dose.
“The results of the study show that the body’s immunity will decline over time. The purpose of the supplementary dose is to re-enhance immunity, thereby significantly reducing the chance of infection and serious illness,” Bennett said at a press conference.
“I call on all elderly people who have received the second dose to take a supplement,” he said. “After I finish my first phone call, I will call my dearest person, my mother, and let me take her to get vaccinated immediately.”
Pfizer said on Wednesday that it believes that people need additional doses to maintain a high level of protection against the coronavirus. The company stated that it could apply for an emergency US authorization for booster injections as early as August.
Bennett said that late Wednesday, an overwhelming majority of Israeli vaccination experts who advised the Ministry of Health approved the boost. People over 60 who received the second dose of Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago will be eligible.
Last week, the Ministry of Health estimated that the vaccine was only 41% effective in preventing symptomatic infections in the past month. The protection rate against serious diseases is still as high as 91%.
Some experts criticized the ministry’s analysis because of the possible biases that could distort the data. Others said that Israel should wait a little longer to get more information about the safety and effectiveness of the third bullet.
Approximately 57% of Israel’s 9.3 million people have been vaccinated. Approximately 160 people were hospitalized with severe symptoms, and the number of new infections each day has soared from a few months ago to over 2,000.
Bennett said his government hopes that increased vaccination efforts will enable Israel to avoid further costly blockades.
