Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Israeli teen receives a COVID-19 vaccine in Petah Tikva, on July 19, 2021. (Flash90)

No major side effects among vaccinated children, initial Israeli data suggests

While health officials were worried about myocarditis among 12- to 15-year-olds, data from 200,000 monitored shows just three such cases

Shaare Zedek Medical Center staff wearing protective clothes move patients to the new coronavirus ward of the hospital in Jerusalem, on January 7, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

Vaccine effectiveness in preventing serious illness falls to 80% – Israeli study

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A Soroka Medical Center staff member works in the coronavirus ward on September 15, 2020. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

Israeli hospitals reopen their coronavirus wards as serious cases mount

By TOI staff

July 29, 2021, 11:54 pm

No major side effects among vaccinated children, initial Israeli data suggests

While health officials were worried about myocarditis among 12- to 15-year-olds, data from 200,000 monitored shows just three such cases

By TOI staff

An Israeli medical worker prepares a COVID vaccine. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

July 29, 2021, 10:27 pm

Experts: Third vaccine dose for elderly might not help, but it won’t hurt either

Introduction of booster shots for people aged 60+ seen as safe, but one senior doctor says it’s ‘not clear enough what the real benefit is’

By Nathan Jeffay

A man receives his second Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from a Magen David Adom national emergency service volunteer, at a private nursing home in Ramat Gan, on January 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

July 29, 2021, 9:47 pm

Bennett calls on Israelis over 60 to get third COVID vaccine dose

TV polls indicate that more than 70 percent of those eligible intend to receive the booster shot

By Amy Spiro

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visits the Migdal Nofim retirement home in Jerusalem on July 27, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 29, 2021, 6:17 am

PM set to back 3rd vaccine dose for older Israelis after nod from expert panel

Government-appointed board gives approval to boosters after seeing data revealing drop in vaccine effectiveness over time for ages 60-plus; Health Ministry chief’s approval needed

By TOI staff

Health care workers take test samples from a caregiver a at Migdal Nofim retirement home in Jerusalem, July 27, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 29, 2021, 2:15 am

Study: 20% of vaccinated health workers who test positive suffer from long COVID

Majority of 39 ‘breakthrough’ cases among 1,497 monitored were mild, but research author says persistence of symptoms among minority ‘raises concern’

By Nathan Jeffay

Vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared for packaging at the company’s facility in Puurs, Belgium, March 2021. (Pfizer via AP)

July 28, 2021, 11:21 pm

Pfizer expects $33.5 billion revenue this year from its COVID-19 vaccine

Strong sales help New York firm nearly double its second-quarter revenue

By LINDA A. JOHNSON

July 28, 2021, 2:52 pm

Israeli hospitals reopen their coronavirus wards as serious cases mount

Number of serious patients reaches 153, having more than doubled in a week, Health Ministry data shows

By TOI staff

July 27, 2021, 8:28 pm

Vaccine effectiveness in preventing serious illness falls to 80% – Israeli study

Hebrew University research also says Israel’s severe COVID cases could reach 400 by mid-August, urges new restrictions

By TOI staff

An Israeli medical worker prepares a coronavirus vaccine (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 27, 2021, 8:16 pm

Experts: COVID boosters for at-risk groups may help avert new variants

The immunocompromised, now receiving 3rd shots, are thought to be origin of new strains — so the move to bolster their defense may also be helping wider society

By Nathan Jeffay

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Social Equality Minister Meirav Cohen (L) and Labor and Welfare Minister Meir Cohen (R) visit a retirement home in Jerusalem, July 27, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 27, 2021, 4:39 pm

Bennett says Israel is ‘very close’ to approving a COVID booster shot

Health Ministry data has shown that those who were first to receive the Pfizer COVID vaccine are more likely now to be infected, apparently due to diminishing effectiveness

By TOI staff

Health care workers on duty taking swabs for coronavirus tests in Jerusalem, July 22, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 25, 2021, 4:51 pm

HMO: Early vaccinees are twice as likely to catch COVID as later recipients

Latest research ‘definitely’ reinforces argument for giving boosters to the elderly, says lab chief at Leumit

By Nathan Jeffay

An Israeli receives coronavirus vaccine in Petah Tikva, on June 6, 2021. (Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 11:51 pm

Israeli, UK data offer mixed signals on vaccine’s potency against Delta strain

Local research claims Pfizer shot now only 41% effective against symptomatic COVID, while British stats have it at 88%

By Nathan Jeffay

Then-coronavirus czar Nachman Ash attends a press conference in Jerusalem on June 23, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 12:17 pm

Health Ministry head says no thanks after Netanyahu contacts Pfizer, Moderna

Nachman Ash says ministry has direct relationship with pharma companies, and booster decision should be left to experts; serious cases rise as cabinet set to meet on restrictions

By TOI staff

US President Joe Biden interacts with members of the audience during a commercial break for a CNN town hall at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, July 21, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

July 22, 2021, 10:55 am

Biden: FDA could okay COVID vaccines for under-12s by end of August

US president says scientists reviewing inoculation for younger children, may approve it around beginning of school year

By TOI staff and AP

A technician collects a swab sample for COVID-19, at a testing center in Tel Aviv (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

July 21, 2021, 10:58 pm

Israeli study claims major drop in vaccine protection; experts don’t believe it

Report says protection against serious COVID-19 illness fell to 80%, or 50% for over-60s; government adviser, physician and health statistics expert all criticize research

By Nathan Jeffay