Israel approves 4th vaccine for immunocompromised
Israel will proceed with the second boost of anti-Covid-19 for people with weakened immune systems, the top government health official said today, but a final over-use is still pending.
An Israeli hospital administered fourth doses to a medical panel on Monday in what it called the first large-scale study to see if a second round of boosters would help treat the Omicron variant. The results are analyzed in two weeks.
Israel was the fastest country to carry out initial vaccinations a year ago and became one of the first countries to launch a booster program after noticing that immunity was weakening over time.
Concerned about the rapid spread of Omicron, a panel of Ministry of Health experts last week recommended that Israel offer a fourth dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine to health professionals and those over 60, or those with weakened immune systems.
However, the director general of the Ministry of Health, Nahman As, whose approval is necessary to launch a new campaign of boosting doses, did not prove immediately, as some experts argue that there is not enough scientific data to justify the administration of a fourth dose. .
During a press conference today, As said he had decided that a second booster dose would only be offered to immunocompromised people for the time being and that he would continue to consider whether to increase eligibility for the booster dose.
“In the face of the global gaps in the current situation, we are acting with caution and responsibility,” he said.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ