Israel Ministry of Health "4th Dose May Be Necessary"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In Israel, the first country in the world to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, voices are increasingly emerging that a fourth dose may be necessary.

On the 24th (local time), Nitzan Horowitz, Israel's Minister of Health, said in a local broadcast interview, "It is not irrational to think that a fourth dose will be necessary."

Minister Horowitz stated, "Although the number of new infections, which had been steadily declining, has recently started to increase again, we have not yet entered a new epidemic phase," but added, "If a fifth wave occurs, our strategy is to vaccinate as many people as possible and coexist with the coronavirus."

Earlier, Nahman Ash, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Israeli Ministry of Health, said at a press briefing on the 21st, "Because immunity acquired through vaccination decreases over time, a fourth dose will have to be administered at some point."

He continued, "The fourth dose is probably just a matter of time," and argued, "Since the immunity gained from the booster shot will not last for several years, we will need to get vaccinated periodically."

Israel controlled infections through the rapid administration of the first and second vaccine doses, the fastest in the world, and lifted all quarantine measures, including indoor mask-wearing, by mid-June.

Subsequently, the fourth wave, centered on the Delta variant, began in earnest, but only minimal quarantine measures such as mandatory mask-wearing and restrictions on unvaccinated individuals entering public places were reinstated, ensuring maximum social and economic activity for the public.

Instead, Israel was the first in the world to introduce the vaccine booster shot and saw significant effects. Thanks to the booster shot, the number of new infections, which had surged to an all-time high in mid-September, as well as the number of severe cases and deaths, sharply decreased.

However, authorities are on alert as signs of resurgence appear, with daily new confirmed cases rising again from the 400s to the 600s. In particular, about 9% of the 605 new confirmed cases on the 23rd were confirmed to be individuals who had received the booster shot, raising further concerns.

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