coronavirus vaccine

January 25, 2023, 1:53 pm

Israelis should get annual COVID shots when virus cases low, vaccine panel advises

Top epidemiologist hails decision as wise move to deal with coronavirus as part of ‘new normal,’ but critic says case for regular population-wide vaccination not compelling

By Nathan Jeffay

British lawmaker Andrew Bridgen speaks to the media outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, June 6, 2022 (Alberto Pezzali/AP)

January 11, 2023, 4:46 pm

UK Conservative party MP booted out for comparing COVID vaccines to the Holocaust

Vaccine conspiracist Andrew Bridgen is suspended pending probe into tweet suggesting that vaccine program is ‘biggest crime against humanity’ since Nazi genocide of Jews

By TOI staff

File - a health worker prepares a vaccine dose at a vaccination center in Jerusalem on January 4, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 10, 2023, 9:21 am

Israeli study: Omicron-fighting boosters cut hospitalization in over-65s by 81%

Largest investigation of the new COVID shots suggests they also sharply reduce deaths, calling them ‘an effective and essential tool’; research is not yet peer-reviewed

By Nathan Jeffay

A healthcare worker prepares a COVID vaccine dose at the Sheba Medical Center on January 5, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

December 20, 2022, 4:46 pm

Power of 4th vaccine doses is in keeping COVID mild, Israeli study finds

When it comes to avoiding ‘substantial’ disease, boost was 71% effective for Pfizer, 89% for Moderna, but 4th shots give only small edge over 3-dose regimen in preventing infection

By Nathan Jeffay

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, December 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

December 19, 2022, 1:03 pm

Daily Briefing Dec. 19: Hanukkah ‘miracle’ at World Cup; hands off the Law of Return

Editor David Horovitz on how Qatar allowed Israelis to fulfill soccer dreams; health reporter Nathan Jeffay brings a blitz of optimistic Israeli research

By TOI staff

Magen David Adom emergency service staff with a patient from the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on February 9, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

December 9, 2022, 2:29 am

Coronavirus czar calls for return to masking in public as infections climb

Salman Zarka urges Israelis to take precautions during Hannukah, get updated vaccine; Health Ministry warns flu, RSV viruses spreading

By TOI staff

Palestinian demonstrators clash with Israeli security forces during a protest in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near the West Bank city of Nablus, December 2, 2022 (Courtesy Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

December 6, 2022, 1:00 pm

Daily Briefing Dec. 6: Uptick in West Bank TikTok attacks; COVID vaccine study

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian discusses West Bank intel and Iron Beam project as health reporter Nathan Jeffay talks side effects of COVID shots and women’s health research

By TOI staff

Illustrative image: An Israeli receives a COVID shot at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

December 5, 2022, 12:04 pm

Side effects of COVID vaccines often ‘psychosomatic’: Israeli peer-reviewed study

The more hesitant people were, the more likely they were to experience side effects, scientists found, after quizzing 750 Israelis on vaccine attitudes and post-shot symptoms

By Nathan Jeffay

MK Avi Maoz attends a discussion in the Knesset,on November 22, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

November 28, 2022, 1:26 pm

Daily Briefing Nov. 28: Netanyahu’s ‘mind-blowing’ extremist ministerial appointees

Editor David Horovitz on the homophobic anti-pluralistic MK tapped to oversee ‘Jewish identity’; health reporter Nathan Jeffay on promising COVID study and new med-tech

By TOI staff

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

November 10, 2022, 4:44 pm

4th COVID shot boosts antibodies for 13 weeks, Israeli study finds

Research shows defense against infection fades by 15 weeks, but protection against serious illness may be longer, according to researchers at Sheba Medical Center

By Nathan Jeffay

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