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The decision to offer booster shots to older citizens comes at a time of rising infections and signs the vaccine’s efficacy dwindles over time.
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal receive their third coronavirus vaccine injections at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel.
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Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara receive their third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Tel Aviv.
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Israel has launched a campaign to give booster shots to people 60 years and over.
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An Israeli health worker prepares to administer a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine at a Maccabi Health Service clinic in Jerusalem.
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More than 57 per cent of the country’s 9.3 million citizens have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
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Israel is the first country to offer a third dose of a Western vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale.
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Anyone over 60 who was vaccinated more than five months ago will be eligible for a third vaccine.
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Neither the US nor the EU have approved coronavirus booster shots.
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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, first right from centre, said a team of expert advisers had agreed it made sense to launch the booster campaign.
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Mr Bennett said the recommendation was made after 'considerable research and analysis'.
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Israel said its research behind the third vaccine would be shared around the world.
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The decision to offer booster shots to older citizens comes at a time of rising infections and signs the vaccine’s efficacy dwindles over time.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YRNWK5TYI4VC3ZGC5MSZNJQURU.jpg?smart=true&auth=08fa8458ce6a2f3f1f77e98f51b24bcff29445e536aca6465660aead1270d10a&width=400&height=225)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal receive their third coronavirus vaccine injections at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BVB7A2DRKFPKNEKTH4FGMM6BJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=409821cc80923e2f45b24c3ba85c0d011b9b8e856576cdc816d9587fe2ddd5b4&width=400&height=225)
Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara receive their third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Tel Aviv.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KJ44PAP4LIBXTWPLWJVVAOWYJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=70b0372339fc41286b8d8804dd7490f5a084c0cb34e63e908f9bc74be782dff7&width=400&height=225)
Israel has launched a campaign to give booster shots to people 60 years and over.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QD5DJAIG4DYY2NQFU3ECZZVQW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6cb61208808415e9fff10441f88a1898c9f967c66f87be0af658886b82d2c35&width=400&height=225)
An Israeli health worker prepares to administer a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine at a Maccabi Health Service clinic in Jerusalem.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TJVW7BWEU37GX3PWHZHYFWAGBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4283d61f4ba675ee9d63ffda26996e46c563b44ef37943eeccd09786514fbb67&width=400&height=225)
More than 57 per cent of the country’s 9.3 million citizens have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3DUHM7C4CMYVZCHBXRTWRJVT54.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c117cbc730689604323c21814489df740eb73da388cfcf62c412f09d679d13c&width=400&height=225)
Israel is the first country to offer a third dose of a Western vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4YDZ6ELTIKM2IB2GW6FGOJRPSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=00fde54eca207eab3da3f2c25489d5c68a75654ddb2ae3eb0fdb8bfd3ee7b751&width=400&height=225)
Anyone over 60 who was vaccinated more than five months ago will be eligible for a third vaccine.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USM7JJOUTCM36WVROEHHTUTYYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d8b297c8f8b512bef521bf93c3fe32eaa48dcfa072d37df454b90ba00961ff4b&width=400&height=225)
Neither the US nor the EU have approved coronavirus booster shots.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2Y6HKR3RFNOXBVUKP3W6722BOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=db5fbd048cdb08dc905ff34fe3aa86bf8671c48f74e6903ca458e9964d951b16&width=400&height=225)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, first right from centre, said a team of expert advisers had agreed it made sense to launch the booster campaign.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBO6QFQSCRL4PWWLVJJJYTP4R4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2a1c5aad82d7043cf4ea3f107ceea25ad6168afd5b8b8e7bdce41c907bc92505&width=400&height=225)
Mr Bennett said the recommendation was made after 'considerable research and analysis'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OYU6U23KEZ3J6BFPRO2G3YS5TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d714085e842d13635effed408acc2473af1530508b3ce0360033b7e93ae6032&width=400&height=225)
Israel said its research behind the third vaccine would be shared around the world.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KWARDRHUXGCFGUE2FDKEWOQZAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5acc3f40f7b78623edf1e20af98c7de8f419260e3da4b5def4ca0051c470a21c&width=400&height=225)
The decision to offer booster shots to older citizens comes at a time of rising infections and signs the vaccine’s efficacy dwindles over time.
Third Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine dose 'has similar side effects to second shot'
About nine in 10 people who received the booster felt 'similar or better' compared to when they completed their two-dose course, a survey has found
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The National
09 August, 2021
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