An Israeli man receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at a mobile Magen David Adom vaccination station at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on February 22, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
The Health Ministry on Monday informed healthcare providers that they can begin to vaccinate Israelis who have recovered from COVID-19.
The ministry’s recommendation calls for vaccinating patients with a single dose three months after recovery. Only recovered patients over 16 can receive a shot, in keeping with the ministry’s guidelines not to vaccinate anyone younger than that.
Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) can begin administering vaccines to the recovered on Tuesday, a Health Ministry statement said.
Over 323,000 Israelis who were infected with COVID-19 recovered at least 90 days ago, according to Health Ministry figures. The ministry’s website does not provide a breakdown on how many of those are under 16.
A Magen David Adom paramedic holds up a vile of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, before inoculating Palestinians in a mobile clinic on February 26, 2021, at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
Monday’s announcement follows the recommendation last month by the Health Ministry’s Priority Committee to vaccinate the recovered.
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There have been nearly 780,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel since the start of the pandemic and 5,760 people have died. As of Monday, over 4.7 million Israelis — half the country’s population — have received the first dose of the vaccine; close to 3.4 million have received both doses.
New national data showed that just one in 1,500 fully vaccinated Israelis has tested positive for COVID-19, providing the strongest sign yet that widespread inoculation can significantly reduce serious illness from the coronavirus and prevent hospitalization.
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