The prime minister of Israel has announced that Israel would provide a coronavirus booster shot for people over 60 who have been vaccinated.Naftali Bennett announced that Israel will now be offering a third dose western vaccine to its citizens. This is a significant step for Israel, which earlier this year launched one of the most successful vaccination drives in the world.Bennett announced this evening that the campaign for the booster vaccine has begun. Bennett made the announcement in a nationally broadcast address. The vaccines are safe, as the reality has shown. The vaccines are safe and prevent severe morbidity or death. It is just like the flu vaccine, which must be renewed every so often.This decision is made at a time when there are rising rates of infections and evidence that vaccine effectiveness is decreasing.Anyone older than 60 who was vaccinated within the last five months will be eligible. Bennett stated that the booster would be given to Isaac Herzog, the new president of the country, on Friday. It will also go to the general population.Bennett, 49, stated that his first call would be to his mother after the news conference to encourage her to get her booster shot.Coronavirus booster shots have not been approved by the US or the EU. It is not known if coronavirus booster shots work. If so, when and who should it be administered.Bennett stated that the booster campaign was a result of a group of experts who had unanimously agreed, 56-1, that it made good sense. Bennett said that the recommendation was based on extensive research and analysis. The information will be shared with the rest of the world. Initial Israeli studies have shown that vaccines against serious illnesses are less effective among people who were vaccinated in January.Bennett stated that the results show a decline of immunity over time. Bennett explained that the booster was intended to strengthen it and reduce the risk of serious illness and infection.Israel has been using the BioNtech/Pfizer vaccine on its citizens. In some countries that had the Russian and Chinese vaccines, boosters were previously used.Israel launched one of the most successful and aggressive vaccination campaigns in the world. In exchange for sharing data with Pfizer, it agreed to purchase sufficient vaccines for its people.More than 57% of the nation's 9.3million citizens have been vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech, and more than 80% of those over 40 have been vaccinated.Israel was able to open its economy faster than other countries thanks to the vaccination program. Even though everyone is vaccinated, Israel has seen an increase in the number of cases of the new Delta variant. Bennett advised Israelis to get vaccinated as soon as possible, particularly younger people who were hesitant.Israel began giving people with weak immune systems an additional shot earlier this month to boost their resistance against Covid-19.Pfizer Wednesday stated that the vaccine's effectiveness drops slightly six months after the second dosage. Pfizer and BioNTech, its German partner, have stated that they will seek authorization for boosters in August.Pfizer vaccine is still highly protective against serious illnesses, according to most studies and data so far from the US and Britain. Pfizer just Wednesday released data from its long-running, 44,000-person study, showing that although protection against symptomatic infections declined slightly after six months, it maintained protection against severe Covid-19 at almost 97%. Israel's Health Ministry had earlier this month announced that severe diseases protection was at 93%.The World Health Organization stated earlier this month that there was not enough evidence to support the need for a third dose.Officials from the agency have urged wealthy countries to give vaccines to poorer countries that have not yet immunized their citizens. Israel has been criticised for not sharing more vaccines with Palestinians.After an increase in coronavirus infections over the last month, Israeli Health Ministry reported at least 2,165 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday. As the highly infectious delta variant of Covid-19 spreads, serious cases have increased from 19 per day in June to 159 today.Israel was able to lift almost all its coronavirus restrictions thanks to its successful vaccination campaign. The country is trying to stop the spread of the highly infectious delta virus variant, but new cases are on the rise. It has reimposed restrictions on gatherings and restored a green pass system that allows vaccinated persons to enter certain enclosed spaces. There is also an indoor mask mandate.
