Top health official: Every parent to decide for themselves on kids’ COVID shots

A senior Health Ministry official says that all parents in Israel should decide for themselves whether to give their young children the COVID vaccine.

Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, the ministry’s head of public health, makes her comments during a livestreamed hearing over approving the Pfizer COVID vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds.

“What is important is that every parent will make the decision for their child, relying on the statistics that we provide,” says Alroy-Preis. “As we have said all along, there is no attempt to force or to compel — rather to provide all of the data so that every parent can made the right decision for their child.”

The Health Ministry’s panel of experts is widely expected to follow the recent recommendation of the US Federal and Drug Administration and approve the vaccine for younger children.