Ramat Gan: Israeli Hospital provides a dose of the fourth Covid-19 vaccine on Monday to a test group, because the country considers agreed to the vulnerable population size in an effort to surpass the omicron variant surge.
The study of the Shaba medical center in Ramat Bro outside Tel Aviv “will zero on the efficacy of the vaccine in producing antibodies, and safety, to ensure that the fourth vaccine is needed in general,” a spokesman said.
150 subjects are all medical staff.
Panel Expert Ministry of Health last week recommended that Israel be the first country to offer the fourth dose of vaccine – also known as the second booster – to those over 60 years old, those who suffer from a compromised immune system, and medical workers.
The proposal was welcomed by the Israeli government, who had struggled against the turn-out plateau for the vaccine.
But the fourth shot awaited the final approval by the Director General of the Ministry, Nachman Ash, a medical doctor whose decision, officials said, would be made without government intervention.
With concerns about the lack of test data, Ash can change the feasibility criteria by increasing the age threshold to 70 and bring down medical workers from the list, said Israeli media.
The Ministry of Health does not confirm or deny that, also does not say when Ash decisions are due.
About 63% of the 9.4 million Israeli population has received two first vaccine doses, according to ministry data.
Nearly 45% have also received a third dose, or booster shot.
Close to 2,000 Omicron cases confirmed or suspected have been recorded.
Israel is the fastest country to launch the initial vaccine a year ago, and became one of the first to observe that immunity reduced from time to time, responding to a widespread booster program.