Israel offers COVID booster vaccine for ages 12 and above

[2greys]

Israel has begun offering a COVID-19 booster to children as young as 12, and its prime minister says a campaign that began a month ago among seniors has slowed a rise in severe illness caused by the Delta variant.

Announcing the decision on Sunday, top Israeli health officials said the effectiveness of the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine waned six months after administration, making a booster necessary.

“The third dose brings us to the level of protection achieved by the second dose, when it was fresh,” said Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health at Israel’s Health Ministry.

“That means, people are 10 times more protected after the third vaccine dose,” she told a news conference, where the expanded booster drive was announced.

Those eligible for the third shot can receive it provided at least five months have passed since their second jab – a timeframe shorter than an eight-month interval in effect in the United States, which is considering cutting the waiting time.

aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/2...

[deni-123red_]

Israel have already given their seniors a third booster dose as you state above. They always seem to be ahead of the game …luckily for their citizens. I’ll be thankful when the UK start giving out the 3rd booster!

[2greys in reply to deni-123red_]

The schools go back on Thursday (locally). By the time they get their second jab it may be too late. If children start to get seriously ill or worse, there are going to be a lot of questions to be answered. True to form I fear, too little, too late. Israel giving 3rd booster jabs, whilst the UK is still kicking the ball around over giving any jabs at all, and booster jabs even for all the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to 2greys]

Schools went back 3 weeks ago here, and the cases in Scotland are at the highest rate ever.

[deni-123red_ in reply to 2greys]

Sadly you’re quite right 2g. My grandson goes back tomorrow and I’m praying he and his friends don’t come down with this blasted virus. Surely the clinically extremely vulnerable will be invited soon?