Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Benet announced at a press conference the start of a vaccination campaign against the coronavirus with a fourth dose in over 60 years and health workers.
The country approved this weekend this booster injection for immunosuppressed and elderly people in nursing homes and geriatric hospitals, and this Sunday has authorized its expansion to a larger sector of the population.
Israel announced in December that it would carry out a massive vaccination campaign with the fourth dose, although immediately after suspended it due to discrepancies between the experts.
“There are a lot of positives at the same time, which goes beyond the capacity of the (health) system,” warned Benet, who predicts a significant increase in the coming weeks.
With the borders closed, the country has registered in the last hours more than 4,000 cases, and has a positivity rate of 4.57%, in addition to 110 people hospitalized in serious condition.
The Israeli prime minister has also announced this Sunday the use of the ‘Merck’ pill against COVID-19, after having started to administer the drug ‘Paxlovid’, the Pfizer pill.
The Israeli Government defended its commitment to coronavirus treatments to avoid serious illnesses. In addition, the country, a pioneer in initiating mass vaccination, has almost six million residents vaccinated with the two doses, and 4.2 million inoculated with the third.
With the intention of motivating the inoculation, the Government announced that those who receive a first dose will be able to obtain the so-called ‘Green pass’, which gives access to certain spaces and events, for a period of 30 days.
In addition, Benet also announced that vaccinated people from the age of five who have a negative COVID-19 test, will be exempt from quarantine, as required until now. Likewise, Health is studying easing more restrictions, such as the entry of tourists to the country prohibited since November.
The Executive reimposed this Friday the mandatory use of a mask outdoorss, in meetings of more than 50 people, as well as carrying a ‘Green Pass’ to access outdoor events with a capacity above 100.
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