Israel launched new vaccination program with third doses against coronavirus for those over 60

Israel began to apply a third dose of vaccine against coronavirus adults over 60, to try to stop the advance of the Delta variant, which puts the country on alert.

To boost the campaign Israeli President Isaac Herzog was one of the first to receive the reinforcement Pfizer vaccine, available for a few weeks for immunocompromised adults and now also for those over 60 who received the second dose at least five months ago. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also gave himself a third injection.

“We have launched the campaign to strengthen immunization” so that life can resume its normal course as quickly as possible, President Herzog said after being vaccinated. Administration of three doses of the anticovid vaccine supposedly strengthens protection against the contagious delta variant, according to the Pfizer lab, but It has not yet been approved by health authorities in the United States or the European Union.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Benet announced Thursday that this third dose will begin to be administered from next Sunday, the start of the vaccination has been brought forward to Friday, and two of the healthcare providers are already offering it to his clients.

“The only way to beat the coronavirus is together. Together, it’s sharing information. Together, it’s about sharing methods, technologies, knowledge and practical actions. Israel is open to sharing any information we can learn from this courageous decision. We are going to win, but together, ”said Benet during a Herzog inoculation ceremony.

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The decision to vaccinate the population with a third dose comes amid growing concern in the country, hence a few weeks ago infections were increasing daily and that this week saw numbers over 2,000.

There are currently more than 16,000 active cases, of which 167 are in serious condition.

After a rapid vaccination campaign at the start of the year, Israel was one of the first countries to return to normal thanks to the vaccination of the majority of its population, but the spread of the Delta variant led the authorities to impose some of the restrictions that had been lifted.

Since Thursday, the Green Pass system has entered into force in the country, according to which only the vaccinated, cured or tested negative population can access certain sites. On the other hand, the list of countries to which citizens and residents are banned from traveling has been extended to 14 and continues to include Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil.

No scientific proof

Israel’s decision “is based on expert opinion, logic, but not strong scientific evidence. But it’s okay, ”he told the news agency. AFP Hebrew University of Jerusalem epidemiologist Hagai Levine.

In mid-July, the government authorized this third injection for severely immunocompromised patients, that is to say those whose weakened immune system makes them particularly vulnerable to the virus.

“Israel is a pioneer in taking the lead with a third dose of the vaccine for people 60 and older,” said Bennett, 49, who accompanied President Herzog to the hospital for the injection on Friday.

The Prime Minister assured that his government “is open to share all the information it obtains from this daring measure”.

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According to Pfizer, “a third dose has neutralizing effects against the Delta variant, five times higher among young people and more than eleven times higher among older people ”. But for now, the US drug regulator FDA, whose recommendations are systematically followed by Israel, has not given the green light to the injection of a third dose.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recalled on Friday that now the priority is to help countries in difficulty and with a lower percentage of vaccinated population.

“At present, (…) all vaccines appear to have a positive impact on the prevention of severe cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” said Dr Bruce Aylward, responsible for overseeing the international delivery system. vaccines at WHO Covax.

For this reason, the priority is “to provide at least two doses of the vaccine (…), especially to health workers, the elderly and people with co-morbidities” to achieve the WHO minimum target of at least 10% of the population of each country has been vaccinated by the end of September, he added.