Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash approved on Friday a fourth coronavirus vaccination shot to residents of assisted living facilities citing their vulnerability to infections. Doses will also be available for nursing home staff who also wish to get innoculated.
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Already on Thursday, Ash gave the green light to a fourth jab to begin administering the fourth jab to the immunocompromised, such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients.
With time, "the effectiveness of the booster decreases. We have seen that there is a difference [in antibodies] in a vaccine that was administered recently or fourth months ago. Therefore, I have approved the fourth jab for the immunocompromised due to concerns that they are more vulnerable to the Omicron outbreak," Ash said.
Last week, an advisory panel recommended the fourth jab for Israelis over the age of 60, those with preexisting conditions, and healthcare and nursing home workers. And although Ash accepted the experts' recommendation only partially he said if the Health Ministry sees "signs showing severe illness is expected to rise among the older populations," then the rollout will be expanded."
Nevertheless, in the meantime, "given the gaps of knowledge that exist around the world regarding the efficiency of a fourth dose in the current circumstances, we are acting cautiously and responsibly," Ash said.
The health chief spoke at a special press conference on Thursday that was also attended by Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, Director of Public Health Services at the Health Ministry Dr. Sharon Elroi Preiss, and Coronavirus Commissioner Salman Zarka.
The press conference took place against the backdrop of a steady increase in the COVID infection rate in recent days, with the senior health experts announcing new restrictions on public life.
According to Ash, the number of participants in outdoor gatherings will not be limited, for now, however, a recommendation has been made to limit outdoor gatherings of over 100 people only to vaccinated Israelis, pending approval. Mask will also be mandated outdoors in outdoor gatherings of over 50 people.
According to Ash, "the healthcare system needs to prepare for the wave of [Omicron] morbidity. We are strengthening the hospitals, as we did in previous waves. Back then, the system dealt with a high number of hospitalized and patients on ventilators, and as such, it must be prepared this time."
Preliminary data on Omicron infections are milder than those caused by other variants, however, the surges have already started stretching Israel's healthcare system, with hospitals filled up with patients suffering from complications of the seasonal flu.
Over four million Israelis have received the third vaccine shot since the beginning of the booster campaign in August.
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