Israel to administer 4th dose of Covid vaccine for medical personnel

Tel Aviv: Israel is set to begin administering a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to medical personnel and people who are 60 or older, the Prime Minister's Office announced last night.

The announcement came after Israel's Pandemic Treatment Staff, a panel of medical experts, voted to recommend the fourth jab on the same day, according to The Times of Israel.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement that he "welcomes" the decision made by the panel, calling it "wonderful news" as the country prepares to face a surge



in cases with the onset of the Omicron variant. He said the citizens of Israel were the first in the world to receive the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and we are continuing to pioneer with the fourth dose as well.

Currently, Israel doesn't consider people fully vaccinated if they don't take a booster shot within six months of receiving their second jab.

On Monday, Israel banned travel to 10 countries, including the US and Canada, over concerns of the Omicron variant.