Israel began applying a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine

Israel began administering a third dose of the Pfizer anticovid vaccine to patients at immune risk, following the increase in coronavirus cases due to the spread of the Delta variant.

The Hebrew state was one of the first countries in the world to launch an extensive vaccination campaign in mid-December thanks to an agreement with the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which quickly supplied the country with millions of doses in exchange for collecting data on the effects of its vaccine developed with the BioNTech company.

This campaign made it possible to administer two doses of the vaccine to more than 55% of the population, including about 85% of adults, which favored the reopening of cafeterias, bars and shops, as well as a reduction in the number of cases of COVID from 10,000 to less than 100 per day.

But, in recent weeks, infections have increased due to the spread of the Delta variant of the virus, which has forced the authorities to again impose some sanitary measures such as the mandatory use of the mask in closed public places.

Given the advancement of the new strain, the Ministry of Health announced that it had authorized the inoculation of a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine to some people who present immunological risk and who have not responded well to the two administered to protect themselves from COVID-19.

“There is growing evidence that immunosuppressed patients do not develop a satisfactory level of antibodies after two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, some may develop these antibodies after three doses,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“In light of the increase in the number of cases in recent weeks and the high risk it represents for immunosuppressed patients with serious diseases, they can now receive a third dose of the vaccine,” added the health administration, which published a list of the types of patients who may require a third dose, such as those who have had an organ transplant.