Senior health officials estimate that the third vaccine for those aged 40 and over will be approved tomorrow (Thursday) evening, and that there is a good chance that a third vaccine from the age of 30 will be approved as early as next week.
An expert forum is expected to convene tonight, accompanying the Ministry of Health in the fight against corona, where about 90 doctors, including members of the Vaccine Advisory Committee and the professional team for the treatment of epidemics.
PM Bennett: "Estimates that a third vaccine from the age of 40 will be approved tomorrow" // Photo: GPO
A senior official in the health system, who participates in the professional forum of the Ministry of Health for the fight against corona, told Israel Today that "most senior officials of the Ministry of Health are in favor of approving the third vaccine for people aged 40 and over today. "It's just a matter of time, within a week, for the third vaccine to be approved over the age of 30, and in September - for all possible ages."
"There is no other way"
As revealed earlier this week in "Israel Today", a number of managers and senior officials in the health system, headed by the director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Nachman Ash, called for a third vaccination for people aged 40 and over soon. Prof. Ash said he supports the move "After the efficiency and safety data in the coming week, we will see if it is possible to make such a decision."
The chairman of the Medical Association, Prof. Hagai Zion, said that he was also in favor of giving a booster dose from the age of 40, and added that "postponing a vaccine for people aged 40 to 50 could cost a person's life.
A vaccine for those aged 40 and over will increase the protection against the Delta variant among the population and reduce the serious morbidity.
"There is no other way today to reduce morbidity, but by vaccination, and there is already information about a large number of people who received a third vaccine without abnormal effects and even less than those who were in the second vaccine."
Prof. Yehuda Adler, an expert in cardiology, internal medicine and medical administration and Corona's consultant to municipal authorities, also supports:
Bennett, Jonathan Zindel / Flash 90
Last night, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett estimated at a press conference that tonight the vaccination of people aged 40 and over will be approved.
At the briefing, which took place against the background of corona morbidity data in Israel, Bennett said: "We are the pioneers of the third vaccines. The vaccines work in an unusual way and are safe."
He added that "in the last week, out of 105 corona deaths, 103 have not completed all the required vaccine doses. There is science and facts here that the vaccines save lives. If we continue to be vaccinated on a large scale - we will overcome the delta. "The closure is the last line of defense."
During the prime minister's press conference, the Likud published a response to his remarks: "Bennett refused to respond to Netanyahu's call, delayed six weeks and wasted precious time in bringing the third vaccine that Netanyahu had ordered in advance to Israel.
Bennett's delay and failure has cost hundreds of lives and tens of thousands of patients. "
600 patients in critical condition
According to data from the Ministry of Health, 600 corona patients with a severely defined condition are currently hospitalized in Israel, 148 of them in critical condition and 103 respirators.
This is a new record since March 14 this year, when 626 patients were reported in critical condition.
The data also show that 60 patients died last week, and since the outbreak of the plague in Israel, the corona has claimed the lives of 6,723 people.
The number verified on Tuesday was 7,870 people who were diagnosed with 149,143 tests.
The rate of positive tests was 5.59% on Tuesday.
In total, there are currently 59,218 active patients in Israel and the infection rate is 1.25.
Meanwhile, the Maccabi HMO reported yesterday that "in a follow-up conducted by the Information and Digital Health Division at Maccabi on vaccinated persons aged 60 and over, 86% efficiency was found in preventing infection after seven days or more of receiving the vaccine."
Dr. Anat Aka Zohar, head of the fund's information and digital health department, said that "the effectiveness of the third vaccine is high against both infection and serious illness, and I call on all those aged 50 and over who have not yet been vaccinated in the third dose to come and protect you and your loved ones.
The effectiveness of the vaccine is also proving itself against the Delta strain and is the solution to curb the widespread morbidity. "
"We are at war"
Against the background of the increase in the number of patients, during a discussion held yesterday in the Knesset's Constitution Committee, the corona commissioner, Prof. Salman Zarka, clarified that "we are at war."
He added that "the next two weeks are critical", and recommended tightening restrictions.
"Our morbidity is rising day by day," Prof. Zarka said at the hearing.
"The data from this morning are not data that can be relied on and said 'maybe.' "Eight people died, in July - 52, and by mid-August - 203. We have about a million people who have not been vaccinated even once. Only if we succeed in vaccinations, including with the million we have not yet been vaccinated and with the third dose, can we avoid locksmithing."
Daniel Roth-Avnery participated in the preparation of the article
