JERUSALEM, Dec 31, Reuters -- Israel is extending its offer of a fourth COVID 19 vaccine dose to elderly people in care facilities, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Friday, citing their high exposure and vulnerability to infections.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry's director-general, Nachman Ash, approved the use of 3 EK 1 R 3 n fourth doses for people with weakened immune systems. The administration of those shots began on Friday.
An Israeli hospital administered fourth shots to a group of health workers on Monday, in a study called the first major study into whether a second round of boosters will help fight the Omicron coronaviruses variant.
Results are expected to be available within two weeks.
A Health Ministry expert panel recommended that Israel give medical workers and those over 60 with compromised immune systems a fourth shot of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
Israel was the first country to launch a booster program a year ago, and it became one of the first to launch a booster programme after observing that immunity waned over time.
Other nations, including the United States, are considering when to give additional doses, and its policies on boosters have been closely watched.