Israel Begins Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Trial for Medical Staff

Goal to Confirm Safety and Efficacy... Cautious Approach to 4th Dose
Interval Between 2nd and 3rd Doses Shortened from 5 Months to 3 Months

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Israel has begun efficacy trials of the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine targeting medical personnel. This move is interpreted as a response to the Israeli Ministry of Health’s decision to withhold approval due to insufficient data on safety and efficacy, despite recent recommendations from the Israeli vaccine advisory committee. Israeli health authorities are known to be cautious about the fourth dose, even as they focus on increasing vaccination rates by shortening the interval for the third dose amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

According to foreign media including CNN on the 27th (local time), Sheba Medical Center, Israel’s largest medical institution, started an efficacy trial of the fourth vaccine dose on 150 of its medical staff. Sheba Medical Center is conducting the trial jointly with the Israeli Ministry of Health and plans to deliver the trial results to the Ministry in two weeks.

The medical personnel participating in this trial received their third dose before August 20 and currently have low antibody levels, the Israeli Ministry of Health reported. Dr. Jacob Lavi of Sheba Medical Center, who is leading the study, stated, "We expect the fourth dose to show preventive effects against the Omicron variant." The Israeli Ministry of Health intends to verify the necessity of the fourth dose after reviewing antibody formation levels and vaccine safety in this trial.

Earlier, on the 21st, the Israeli vaccine advisory committee and the COVID-19 response team announced a recommendation for the fourth dose targeting seniors aged 60 and above, medical personnel, and immunocompromised individuals. However, the Israeli Ministry of Health has withheld final approval citing insufficient safety and efficacy data.

According to local media such as The Times of Israel, final approval for the fourth dose lies with Nahman Ash, the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Health, and the Israeli government is currently unable to intervene. The Times of Israel reported that Director-General Ash plans to administer the fourth dose only to those aged 70 and above and immunocompromised individuals, excluding medical personnel.

While the Israeli Ministry of Health remains cautious about the fourth dose, it is accelerating the third dose amid the worsening spread of the Omicron variant. On this day, the Ministry announced that the interval between the second and third doses has been shortened from five months to three months. According to Israeli health authorities’ data, about 63% of Israel’s total population of 9.4 million have completed the second dose, and 45% have completed the third dose.

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