coronavirus vaccine

A man receives the fifth Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from medical staff at Clalit Health services in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

September 22, 2022, 10:53 pm

Israel begins rollout of COVID vaccines tailored to Omicron

Health authorities recommend those 65 and up receive vaccine along with other at-risk groups

By AP

Illustrative image: a man receives his fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at a Clallit vaccine center in Jerusalem on January 3, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

September 20, 2022, 11:24 am

Clinics to begin rollout of variant-tailored COVID shots this week

Elderly and at-risk to be given priority; unclear whether vaccines will immediately be available to all, with lethargic response expected from public

By Nathan Jeffay

An illustration showing the evolution of the main coronavirus variants that infected Israel. (CIPhotos via iStock by Getty Images)

September 19, 2022, 2:27 pm

Daily Briefing Sept. 19: Tailor-made COVID vaccines; Haredi TV stars on ‘Bnot Brak’

Health reporter Nathan Jeffay updates us on new promising research for Parkinson’s and receding gums; news editor Amy Spiro on a reality TV series featuring ultra-Orthodox women

By TOI staff

COVID czar Salman Zarka seen during a visit of Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz at the Ziv medical center in the northern Israeli city of Safed, on June 23, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

September 14, 2022, 4:31 pm

COVID czar reports rise in infections, warns of fresh wave in winter

Salman Zarka urges people to get vaccinated for coronavirus and flu, noting that new vaccines adapted to variants have arrived in Israel

By TOI staff

File - Former Polish President Alekdander Kwasniewski touches the statue after praying for the dead at a ceremony marking 70 years since Poland's villagers murdered hundreds of their Jewish neighbors during World War II in Jedwabne, Poland, July 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

September 12, 2022, 1:51 pm

Daily Briefing Sept. 12: Poland seeks WWII reparations – for Jews killed by Poles

Diaspora reporter Judah Ari Gross delves into a shocking story out of Poland; health reporter Nathan Jeffay brings us the latest in COVID research and a cancer detection blood test

By TOI staff

An Israeli man receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at Maccabi vaccination center in Modi'in, on January 6, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

September 8, 2022, 11:28 am

Israeli study: Vaccines slash long COVID cases, with 80% drop in shortness of breath

Peer-reviewed finding is ‘the cherry on top’ for vaccines, which have already been shown to reduce infection and lower seriousness of illness, says researcher

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative: A man checks a nasal spray bottle. (Malikov Aleksandr; iStock by Getty Images)

September 7, 2022, 7:44 pm

WHO says nasal vaccines could help tame COVID

‘You’re generating the 1st line of defense at where the virus enters,’ official at health agency says after China and India approve vaccines, but stresses more data needed

By Robin MILLARD

Illustrative image: A health worker prepares a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

September 6, 2022, 1:41 pm

New Omicron-busting shots score a point in race against variants – expert

Vaccines will increase protection even though Omicron has already changed since they were developed, says Bar-Ilan epidemiologist

By Nathan Jeffay

This August 2022 photo provided by Pfizer shows vials of the company's updated COVID-19 vaccine during production in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Pfizer via AP)

August 31, 2022, 8:42 pm

US FDA authorizes updated COVID boosters tailored to new subvariants

Following CDC approval, new ‘bivalent’ shots — which are half the original vaccine and half an Omicron-targeted version — expected to roll out across America

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

August 28, 2022, 1:56 pm

Antivax doctor’s license permanently revoked after court rejects appeal

Arieh Avni appealed Health Ministry’s 2021 decision to bar him from practicing, but judge upholds ruling, saying, ‘We must distinguish between opinion and incitement’

By TOI staff and Ash Obel

A vial of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, on a table at an inoculation station next to Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, on July 19, 2022. (AP Photo/ Rogelio V. Solis)

August 26, 2022, 5:20 pm

Moderna sues Pfizer, BioNTech over patents behind COVID vaccine

Massachusetts-based firm accuses rival and its partner of copyright infringement, filing suit in both US and German courts

By Tom Murphy

August 15, 2022, 7:58 pm

UK regulator is first to OK Moderna’s updated Omicron-protection COVID booster

Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency says it gave green light to Moderna’s combo ‘bivalent’ vaccine, which will be used as an adult booster shot targeting Omicron variant

By Maria Cheng

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla speaks, ahead of the G-7 summit in St. Ives, England, June 10, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

August 15, 2022, 7:57 pm

Pfizer CEO Bourla tests positive for COVID, has ‘very mild symptoms’

Coronavirus vaccine pioneer confident he will make a speedy recovery after taking his firm’s virus treatment drug, says he’s ‘thankful’ to be quadruple-vaccinated

By TOI staff

In this photo taken on July 14, 2022, US President Joe Biden wipes his nose after signing the guest book while visiting Israel's President Isaac Herzog at Beit HaNassi, the presidential residence in Jerusalem. (MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

July 21, 2022, 6:18 pm

Biden tests positive for COVID-19, a week after visiting Israel on Mideast tour

US president experiencing ‘very mild symptoms,’ White House says; safety protocols around the leader have been reduced in recent months amid efforts to resume normalcy

By AP and TOI staff

Jerusalemites wearing face masks walk in the city center in February 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 18, 2022, 6:32 pm

COVID czar cautiously optimistic sixth wave will recede soon

Despite recent discovery of new subvariant BA2.75 in Israel, Salman Zarka says mask mandate not expected to return anytime soon

By Ash Obel