Israel: "Booster Shot Side Effects Similar to or Less Than Second Dose"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In Israel, the first country in the world to start booster shots, it has been found that the side effects of the third dose are similar to or less than those of the second dose.

On the 8th (local time), major foreign media reported that Clalit, Israel's largest healthcare organization, administered Pfizer booster shots to more than 240,000 people and revealed these findings.

According to a survey conducted by Clalit on 4,500 people who received booster shots from the 30th of last month to the 1st of this month, 88% of respondents answered that their feelings were "similar to or better than the second dose."

Thirty-one percent reported experiencing side effects. Most of them said they felt stinging and burning sensations at the injection site. One percent experienced one or more side effects that required medical treatment, and 0.4% experienced difficulty breathing.

Israel began administering booster shots to those aged 60 and over from the 30th of last month. As of the previous day, 420,109 people had received the booster shot, exceeding one-third of the target population in less than ten days since the start of the vaccination.

Clalit stated, "The side effects of the booster shot were similar to or less than those of the second dose," adding, "Although long-term investigation results on efficacy and safety have not yet been released, it is clear that it helps enhance immunity in the population aged 60 and over."

Following Israel, the United Kingdom and Germany have also announced vaccination plans, and the United States is expected to announce theirs as early as next month. Foreign media said, "While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not officially approved booster shots, Israel has become a testing ground for safety and efficacy."

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