Over 1 million Israelis have now received COVID booster shot

16 August 2021, 7:47 pm

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Illustrative image: An Israeli woman receives a coronavirus vaccine booster shot; Oramed is aiming at introducing oral vaccines instead (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

Over 1 million Israelis have now received a third coronavirus vaccine dose, the government announces, weeks after Israel became the first country to begin administering booster shots to older citizens.

With the milestone, more than half of some 1.9 Israelis over age 50 who were fully vaccinated over five months ago have now received a booster, according to the government.

Israel first began offering boosters to people older than 60, before opening up eligibility to those over 50 last week. Booster shots are also available to the immunocompromised.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett cheers “the great achievement,” but says there is more work to do on the vaccine front.

“Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated, go get vaccinated now,” he says.