- Title: Israel offers COVID-19 booster to all vaccinated people
- Date: 30th August 2021
- Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) NURSE HOLDING SYRINGE NEEDLE IN COVID-19 VACCINE, AS SEEN ON SMARTPHONE AS OWNER IS TAKING PHOTOS VARIOUS OF NURSE GIVING COVID-19 VACCINE MAN COUPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ARRIVING AT VACCINATION CENTRE NURSE PREPARING SYRINGE NURSE INJECTING 31-YEAR-OLD DAVID ATTIAS WITH COVID-19 VACCINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) 31-YEAR-OLD BANKER, DAVID ATTIAS, WHO CAME TO GET HIS THIRD SHOT OF COVID-19 VACCINE, SAYING: "So we went here with my wife to take the third shot of the vaccine today. Actually, as soon as it was open to us we just book an appointment on the application and got here. What is important to us is to get back to a kind of normal life, so as soon as we had the possibility to do it, we just did it." NURSE VACCINATING WOMAN WITH CHILD ON HER LAP NURSE VACCINATING MAN IN BOOTH NURSE INJECTING 17-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN, LIAM KRISS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 17-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN, LIAM KRISS, SAYING: "Yeah, I came here today to get the third dose for the Corona vaccine because it is our time to get back to reality, to get back to loving, to hug, to kiss, to fly, and I am waiting to see my family in France. So let's get back to reality." NURSE VACCINATING 36-YEAR-OLD ECONOMIST, LIOR YAFFE COHEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) 36-YEAR-OLD ECONOMIST, LIOR YAFFE COHEN, SAYING: "I came here to get my third vaccine. I think we are lucky to be able to get the third vaccination. We have a big opportunity to be the first country to give their population get vaccinated, and I think everyone who can need to come here and do the same." NURSE VACCINATING WOMAN BOOTHS AT VACCINE STATION PEOPLE WALKING PAST BOOTHS AT THE VACCINE STATION
- Embargoed: 13th September 2021 13:00
- Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine booster Israel coronavirus third dose of COVID-19 vaccine
- Location: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- City: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA001ESH21C7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Israel on Sunday (August 29) began offering a COVID-19 booster to children as young as 12, and its prime minister said a campaign that began a month ago among seniors has slowed a rise in severe illness caused by the Delta variant.
Announcing the decision, 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.
In a news conference, the head of public health at Israel's Health Ministry Sharon Alroy-Preis stated that the third dose should bring people to the level of protection achieved by the second dose when it was fresh and that this will mean that people are 10 times more protected after the booster.
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.
Hoping to curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, Israel began administering the booster to its older population a month ago and has been gradually lowering the age of eligibility. It stood at 30 before Sunday's announcement.
So far 2 million people out of a population of 9.3 million have received three doses.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a statement called on those aged 12 and up to go out and immediately take the third shot.
People at the vaccine stations showed enthusiasm and reflected that it was key to going back to normal life, "What is important to us is get back to kind of normal life, so as soon as we had the possibility to do it, we just did it." said 31-year-old banker, David Attias after receiving his booster shot.
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.
The United States has said it will offer booster doses to all Americans, citing data showing diminishing protection. Canada, France, and Germany have also planned booster campaigns.
(Production: Rami Amichay, Lianne Back, Nuha Sharaf) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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