coronavirus vaccine

Empty vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine are seen on the counter at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination center at a pharmacy in the suburb of Cabramatta in Sydney on August 17, 2021. (Saeed KHAN / AFP)

October 18, 2021, 1:13 pm

Israel to offer AstraZeneca vaccines starting Thursday

Doses will be available to those 18 and over who are unable to get mRNA-based vaccines like the ones made by Pfizer and Moderna

By TOI staff

Illustrative: An IDF medic prepares to take blood from a soldier, in an undated photograph. (Israel Defense Forces)

October 14, 2021, 8:48 pm

Gantz backs using IDF medics to bolster national flu shot campaign

Cabinet to consider proposal to have soldiers who serve in coronavirus vaccine centers inoculate people against influenza, alleviating pressure on hospitals

By Judah Ari Gross

A mother tests her son with a coronavirus rapid antigen home test kit in Haniel, central Israel on September 27, 2021. (Chen Leopold/Flash90)

October 13, 2021, 2:54 pm

Health Ministry cancels quarantine for parents caring for COVID-infected kids

Those who are vaccinated or have recovered from coronavirus will no longer need to isolate along with their children under the age of 12

By Stuart Winer

Rivka Taub Rivera, a physical education teacher at a New York City public school, began her maternity leave early to avoid having to comply with a vaccine mandate that went into effect for city teachers on October 4, 2021. (Courtesy Rivera/ via JTA)

October 10, 2021, 6:02 am

Some Jewish schoolteachers seek a religious exemption from NY vaccine mandate

Educators are turning to rabbis outside of their own communities to find the endorsements necessary to circumvent a new citywide requirement that educators be inoculated

By PHILISSA CRAMER

Hospital team members wear safety gear as they work in the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on September 23, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 8, 2021, 11:59 am

Serious COVID cases hit lowest rate in nearly 2 months, most are unvaccinated

349 of 460 patients hospitalized with severe illness have not been inoculated; 720,000 eligible Israelis have not received single dose; 40% of the population received booster

By TOI staff

A healthcare worker holds a vial of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, October 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

October 7, 2021, 5:52 pm

Pfizer asks US to approve COVID vaccine for kids ages 5-11

Pharma firm formally files application with American regulators; Israel waiting for FDA approval before okaying shots for that age group; no major side effects seen in study

By AP and TOI staff

A medical worker prepares a vial of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at Clalit Health Service's vaccination center in the Cinema City complex in Jerusalem, Sept. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

October 7, 2021, 3:06 am

Majority of Jewish Israeli parents would give COVID shot to kids 5-11 — survey

Research finds 57% would give child vaccine if FDA approved; parents older than 40, with academic degrees, with higher incomes all more likely to back vaccination

By TOI staff

Illustration of a human heart (magicmine; iStock by Getty ImageS)

October 7, 2021, 3:05 am

Major Israeli study: Risk of heart inflammation after COVID shots is very small

Data from 2.5 million who got vaccine finds the illness afflicted only 0.002%, and was found to be serious in only 2% of the cases that did develop, though one patient died

By TOI staff

Medical staff in the coronavirus ward of the Herzog Medical Center in Jerusalem, on July 29, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 5, 2021, 10:11 pm

Serious COVID cases fall below 500 for first time since mid-August

Experts predict number of patients hospitalized in serious condition could drop to as low as 250 by end of month, amid growing signs of waning morbidity

By TOI staff

A woman receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit health care center in Jerusalem, October 3, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 5, 2021, 2:06 pm

Sufferers of major vaccine side effects could get ‘Green Pass’ without 3rd dose

Top Health Ministry official says an exceptions committee will look into such cases, which are believed to be rare

By Amy Spiro

A syringe is prepared with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Jerusalem, September 1, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/ Flash90)

October 4, 2021, 8:19 pm

EU drug agency gives green light to COVID vaccine booster for adults

European Medicines Agency rules to approve 3rd shots of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus inoculation for all people aged over 18

By AP and TOI staff

A health worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine in Jerusalem, on October 3, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 3, 2021, 7:05 pm

Israel data: Boosters cut elderly’s risk of COVID death to 50th of unvaxxed rate

‘Dramatic figures’ show over-60s who shun vaccines are not only at much greater risk of death than triple-vaxxed, but also have 65 times the chance of getting seriously ill

By Nathan Jeffay

In this Feb. 23, 2021, file photo, a man presents his Green Pass at the Khan Theater (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

October 3, 2021, 10:15 am

Green Pass update delayed as Health Ministry system crashes, causing chaos

Ministry says old passes will still be valid for a few more days, after website is unable to keep up with demand for permits

By TOI staff

In this image provided by the University of Utah Health, medical professionals look after a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit on July 30, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (Charlie Ehlert/University of Utah Health via AP)

October 2, 2021, 1:36 pm

Accelerating toll: COVID-19 deaths hit 5 million as world battles variants

It took just over a year after disease emerged to reach toll of 2.5 million, but next 2.5 million deaths occurred in under 8 months, according to Reuters analysis

By TOI staff and Agencies

A volunteer in the Phase 2 trial for Israel's coronavirus vaccine, BriLife, at Sheba Medical Center, on December 28, 2020 (courtesy of Sheba Medical Center)

October 2, 2021, 11:45 am

TV: Israeli-made COVID vaccine at least 80% effective, initial results show

Israel Institute for Biological Research indicates over 4 out of 5 volunteers in ongoing clinical trials developed antibodies, Channel 12 reports

By TOI staff