Expert panel recommends expanding COVID booster shot drive to Israelis over 50

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The Health Ministry’s advisory panel recommended on Thursday that Israel expand its COVID booster shot campaign to people aged 50 and up and health workers two weeks after the ministry decided to begin booster shots for those over 60 – making Israel the first country to do so.

Israel’s largest health maintenance organization, Clalit, said before the recommendation was announced that it would begin offering the shots to those over 50 next week.

In a statement, Clalit said that scheduling appointments for the third dose would be possible starting Friday on its website.

Hospital staff get ready to treat coronavirus patients in Kfar Saba, IsraelTomer Appelbaum

Earlier on Thursday, Bennett instructed health maintenance organizations to prepare to roll out third vaccines for different age groups starting next week.

Because Israel is at an advanced stage in the standard vaccination campaign, any expansion is a pioneering step. Receiving the third dose, although a calculated and reasonable risk according to many experts, is not yet based on an orderly trial protocol and is somewhat of a gamble, though more in terms of how effective it is, rather than if it is safe.

According to the Health Ministry, over 700,000 people have gotten the booster dose. This week, it was reported that fewer than 50 of them have reported side effects. The reported symptoms (pain at the injection site, fever, and nausea) were mild and passed quickly.

Israel reported 5,946 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday according to data published by the Health Ministry on Thursday, the day after Israel approved tightening proof of immunity and gathering restrictions as the delta variant continues to spread nationwide.

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According to the ministry, the number of serious coronavirus cases in Israel topped Tuesday’s six-month high, with 421 cases. There are currently 42,203 active coronavirus cases in Israel.

The rate of positive coronavirus tests rose from Tuesday’s figure of 4.59 percent to 4.62 percent on Wednesday.

More than 5.8 million Israelis have received their first vaccine; 5.4 million have received their second vaccine. 716,618 Israelis have received their third coronavirus vaccine.

On Wednesday, Israel approved expanding the Green Pass proof of immunity program to apply to Israelis aged three and up, as well as limiting gatherings. The new restrictions will go into effect next Wednesday.