- Israel started to provide booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine to all people over 50 years of age on Friday.
- Medical staff, vulnerable groups, prisoners and guards are now also eligible for boosters.
- The vaccine helps prevent severe Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
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Israel started to provide booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine to people in their 50s on Friday as the country tries to control a surge in new cases.
Ran Balicer, Chief Innovation Officer of Clalit Health Services and Chairman of Israel’s Covid-19 National Panel of Experts, said: “Beginning this morning, people between the ages of 50 and 60 have been vaccinated at Clalit clinics across the country.” France reported on the 24th.
The Israeli Ministry of Health approved a booster dose of the vaccine on Thursday night Said in a statement.
The Ministry of Health said in a statement that medical staff, people with weakened immune systems, prisoners and guards can now also receive booster injections.
“This is an important step in the fight against the delta pandemic,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Thursday statement.
Israel begins to provide booster injections for people over 60 Two weeks ago, it was cited that protection against serious diseases driven by Delta variants has declined over time. The vaccine helps prevent severe Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Israeli Health Minister Nizan Horowitz said at the time that if the intensified injection succeeds in reducing severe cases, it will “provide us with a powerful tool to fight the pandemic.” Wall Street Journal Report.
With the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in Israel, with more than 6,000 new cases every day, the intensified injection will be expanded to people over 50 years of age. According to data from Johns Hopkins University. The data shows that although almost 60% of the population is vaccinated.
Some evidence suggests that mRNA immunity may be weakening
The Covid-19 vaccine still plays its main role: preventing serious illness and death.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant are 25 times less likely to be severely ill or die. The vast majority of people did catch it There are mild or no symptoms.
Some studies have found that the level of protective antibodies May decline over time It also provides boosters for Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines to increase the level of neutralizing antibodies, Nature News Report.
However, it is not clear whether the booster injection can improve the protective effect of the vaccine on the general population.
Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approve authorization The Covid-19 vaccine booster for immunocompromised Americans, as we all know, they are More susceptible to reduced immunity from vaccines.
But it is not clear when or if the US health agency will take action to provide boosters to the general population. In July, the CDC and FDA issued Rare joint statement says it is too early to recommend boosters.
The World Health Organization also said it is too early Recommendation boosterIt said that since vaccinations can still prevent serious illness and death, priority should be given to those who have not been vaccinated and are highly likely to die from Covid-19.
