Israel Starts Booster Shot Campaign... "Second Vaccination Drive Within 6 Months"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Israel, which ranks first in the world for COVID-19 vaccination rates, is starting its booster shot campaign. With more than half of its population fully vaccinated, Israel plans to launch a second vaccination campaign within six months.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the 20th (local time), "We are preparing for another vaccination campaign within six months." This announcement follows an agreement to purchase an additional 16 million doses of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

Local media reported that on the 2nd of last month, in preparation for the possibility of a short immunity period from the vaccines or the emergence of new variants, the government decided to purchase an additional 36 million doses, which is three times the amount previously secured. The newly purchased 16 million doses account for 44.4% of this total.

The second vaccination campaign will also include children. Netanyahu said, "If children want to get vaccinated, please prepare their shoulders and muscles," adding, "Vaccination for children is expected to be approved by then."

If vaccination becomes available for children and adolescents under 16, who have been excluded so far due to lack of clinical approval, Israel will be one step closer to achieving herd immunity.

So far, 5.35 million people, or 57% of the total population (approximately 9.3 million), have received the first dose, and over 4.98 million people, more than 53%, have completed the second dose.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.