Israel gives COVID-19 booster vaccine from age 12

Israel is given COVID-19 booster to children as young as 12, a campaign that began a month ago among seniors has slowed a rise in severe illness caused by the Delta variant.

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

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

“That means, people are 10 times more protected after the third vaccine dose.”

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.

Israel began administering the booster to its older population a month ago and has been gradually lowering the age of eligibility.

So far two million people out of a population of 9.3 million have received three doses.

Israel and other countries have pressed ahead with booster plans despite opposition from the World Health Organization, which said more of the world should be vaccinated with a first dose before people receive a third.

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Kamila/Al-Jazeera