TEL AVIV (AP) — Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to COVID-19, an official said Thursday, becoming one of the first countries to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant.
Nachman Ash, the director general of the Health Ministry, announced the decision at a press conference, saying the doses would initially be given to those with weakened immune systems.
“We will continue to track the data on a daily basis and we will see if we need to broaden this recommendation to more of the population,” he said.
Israel was among the first countries to roll out Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine a year ago and began rolling out boosters last summer. But it still saw a wave of infections blamed on the delta variant, and officials have warned of another driven by the fast-spreading omicron.
Around two-thirds of Israel’s population of nearly 9.5 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and some 4.2 million Israelis have received all three doses, according to the latest Health Ministry figures.
Earlier Thursday, Israel received its first shipment of pills that treat the worst effects of the virus.
It’s among of the first countries to receive Pfizer’s Paxlovid, a pill that can be taken at home to ward off the most severe symptoms of the coronavirus. All the previously authorized drugs require an IV or injection.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the shipment would help Israel to “successfully overcome the peak of the approaching omicron wave.”
Israeli media reported that the first shipment consists of 20,000 doses, with more expected as Pfizer ramps up production.
Israel currently has more than 22,000 active patients, including more than 90 who are seriously ill. At least 8,243 people have died from COVID-19 in Israel since the start of the pandemic.
Last week, Chile announced that it would start offering a fourth dose in February. Chile has reported almost 86% of its population fully vaccinated, making it the country with the highest level of immunization against the coronavirus in Latin America.
Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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New plan: They’re going to keep giving “vaccines” and boosters until one finally “works”. Job security for Research & Development.
I used to respect the hell out of Israel.. WITH THIS bollocks, they’ve lost EVERY DAMN BIT OF IT…
Enrich all of your buddies at Big Pharma. Aren’t the politicians beautiful, the way they are all in bed with big business?
But , Fauci’s not a politician just a want a be NAPOLEON. Sure hope his Waterloo is just around the corner.
This is exactly the news the demonic rats want . More sickness, misery and death because it falls within their narrative to scare Americans. Their biggest hurdle is that more and more Americans are self educating themselves about the made in China funded.by a American taxpayers virus and do not believe anything the democrat owned news outlets produce.
So American taxpayers footed the bill for Pfizer’s COVID vaxes including the “pill” and instead of getting the USA ramped up FIRST, they are shipping 20,000 to ISRAEL!?!?!? I sure hope that Pfizer is charging them a king’s ransom because that’s about how much USA TAXPAYERS have forked out. BTW…. I’m assuming that Pfizer will be reimbursing the Federal Government for the upfront monies received by them?!?!?!? Oops that ONLY happens in FAIRY TALES!!!
Other than in kickbacks to their loyal politicians, i HIGHLY DOUBT A SINGLE DIME we tax payers footed out for this, is being given BACK TO we the people.
Anyone in their right mind can see that when this government decided to ban all proven medications to treat sick and dying Americans from a virus funded by American taxpayer dollars and supported by democrats that our country has satan as a president. God save us from this evil filthy government.