A medic holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a centre in Taibeh, northern Israel. Photo: AFP
A medic holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a centre in Taibeh, northern Israel. Photo: AFP
A medic holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a centre in Taibeh, northern Israel. Photo: AFP
A medic holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a centre in Taibeh, northern Israel. Photo: AFP

MENA

Israel approves Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11

Children aged from 12 to 17 are already receiving vaccinations

The National

November 15, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Israel has recommended vaccination against Covid-19 for children aged between 5 and 11.

It joins other countries offering vaccines to young children, including the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Colombia and Cuba.

“The director general of the ministry of health authorised the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years,” the health ministry said.

Authorities had already begun vaccinating minors aged 12 to 17 but decided to lower the age threshold after trials by Pfizer and recommendations from a panel of Israeli scientists.

Israel was one of the first countries to launch a vaccination campaign last year using the shots, thanks to a deal with Pfizer that gave it access to millions of doses in exchange for data on the vaccine's efficacy.

The vaccination campaign allowed the health authorities to fully vaccinate 5.7 million of the country's nine million population.

The latest announcement came as health authorities reported 220 new infections over the previous day.

It marked a plunge from daily cases that topped 10,000 in late August and early September, driven by the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

  • An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine from the Magen David Adom during a campaign to encourage the vaccination of teenager in Tel Aviv.
    An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine from the Magen David Adom during a campaign to encourage the vaccination of teenager in Tel Aviv.
  • An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine during a campaign to encourage the vaccination of teenagers in Tel Aviv.
    An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine during a campaign to encourage the vaccination of teenagers in Tel Aviv.
  • 12-year-old Yonatan Rosh receives a Covid-19 vaccine as he is support by his mother Ilana at a vaccines station in Tel Aviv.
    12-year-old Yonatan Rosh receives a Covid-19 vaccine as he is support by his mother Ilana at a vaccines station in Tel Aviv.
  • 12-year-old Yonatan Rosh eating ice cream he got for free after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination station in Tel Aviv.
    12-year-old Yonatan Rosh eating ice cream he got for free after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination station in Tel Aviv.
  • An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Israel is now urging more 12- to 15-year-olds to be vaccinated, citing new outbreaks attributed to the more infectious Delta variant.
    An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Israel is now urging more 12- to 15-year-olds to be vaccinated, citing new outbreaks attributed to the more infectious Delta variant.
  • Israeli youths receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Some 5.2 million people have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after Israel obtained millions of doses.
    Israeli youths receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Some 5.2 million people have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after Israel obtained millions of doses.
  • An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The Israeli health ministry reimposed a requirement last month for masks to be worn in enclosed public places following a surge in Covid cases.
    An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The Israeli health ministry reimposed a requirement last month for masks to be worn in enclosed public places following a surge in Covid cases.
  • An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. About three-quarters of Israelis in eligible age groups have received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
    An Israeli girl receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. About three-quarters of Israelis in eligible age groups have received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
  • A minor receives a Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination station in Tel Aviv, Israel.
    A minor receives a Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination station in Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • Israeli youths arrive to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine - bookings doubled and tripled after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that currently allotted doses would expire on July 9.
    Israeli youths arrive to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine - bookings doubled and tripled after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that currently allotted doses would expire on July 9.
  • Israeli youths arrive to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
    Israeli youths arrive to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
  • A minor receives a COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination station in Tel Aviv.
    A minor receives a COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination station in Tel Aviv.

A campaign for a third booster vaccine appeared central to driving down infections.

Results of clinical trials using the Pfizer shot on children showed the vaccine was 90.7 per cent effective in preventing symptoms of the illness.

“The majority of experts believe that the benefits of vaccinating children outweigh the risks,” the ministry said.

The ministry will announce the date for the start of inoculations for young children in coming days.

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)

Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties

Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

The%20specs%20
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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at. 
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.   

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Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

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