The Prime Minister has the third COVID-19 while Israel expands the reinforcement campaign

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  • Israel expands reinforcement campaign against COVID-19
  • New cases have increased since the arrival of the Delta variant
  • The WHO said current data do not indicate the need for reinforcers

JERUSALEM, Aug. 20 (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett received a third shot of Pfizer / BioNtech (PFE.N) COVID-19 (PFE.N) (22UAy.DE) on Friday after Israel extended its reinforcement campaign for people over 40 try to curb the Delta coronavirus variant.

New cases in Israel have increased since the appearance of Delta and Bennett, 49, has tried to avoid an economically painful national blockade by increasing third doses.

People over the age of 60 began receiving third doses in July, before the minimum eligibility age was reduced to 50. Ministry of Health officials cited Delta’s declining immunity and high infectivity.

The Ministry of Health said on Friday the promoters would now be administered to people over 40 whose second shot was at least five months ago. It is recommended that teachers, health workers, caregivers of the elderly, and pregnant women of all ages have the shot.

The United States has announced plans to offer booster shots to all Americans, citing data showing less and less protection. Canada, France and Germany have announced reinforcement campaigns. Read more

“If you get vaccinated with a third shot, we can avoid a fourth block,” Bennett said before appearing live on social media receiving his shot. He said Israel would share his data.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett receives a third vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while Israel launches booster shots for more than 40 years in Kfar Saba, Israel, on August 20, 2021. REUTERS / Ronen Zvulun

More than a million of Israel’s 9.3 million population has received a third shot, which an Israeli health care provider said Wednesday was 86% effective in preventing infection.

Israeli health officials have said they see initial signs that the strengthening campaign could slow the pace of increasing cases. Read more

About one million eligible Israelis have not taken any dose of the vaccine and serious cases have been on the rise, although few fully vaccinated children aged 40 to 50 have fallen seriously ill.

Studies have shown that the vaccine is still highly effective in preventing serious disease, but its effectiveness against new infections diminished as the Delta variant spread.

There is no consensus among scientists and health agencies on the need for a third dose. Read more

The World Health Organization said Wednesday that current data do not indicate the need for reinforcement and that the most vulnerable people around the world should be fully vaccinated before high-income countries implement a recharge.

Pfizer Inc. has said that the effectiveness of its vaccine decreases over time and that a third dose showed significantly higher neutralizing antibodies against the initial SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Beta and Delta variants.

Written by Maayan Lubell; Timothy Heritage Edition

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