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 The data were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of
vaccination experts on Thursday and uploaded to its website on
Sunday, though the full details of the study were not released.
The findings were on par with separate statistics reported last week
by Israel's Maccabi healthcare provider, one of several
organisations administering booster shots to try to curb the Delta
coronavirus variant.
Breaking down statistics from Israel's Gertner Institute and KI
Institute, ministry officials said that among people aged 60 and
over, the protection against infection provided from 10 days after a
third dose was four times higher than after two doses.
A third jab for over 60-year-olds offered five to six times greater
protection after 10 days with regard to serious illness and
hospitalisation.
That age group is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and in Israel
was the first to be inoculated when the vaccine drive began in late
December.
In recent weeks, the health ministry has said immunity has
diminished over time for seniors and younger people as well. Most
vaccinated people who fell severely ill in Israel were over 60 and
with underlying health conditions.
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Israel started administering third jabs to over 60-year-olds on July
30. On Thursday it dropped the age of eligibility for a booster to
40, and included pregnant women, teachers and health care workers
below that age. Third doses are given only to those who received
their second shot at least five months ago.
The United States has announced plans to offer booster shots to all
Americans, citing data showing diminishing protection. Canada,
France and Germany have announced booster campaigns.
Fighting an outbreak of the Delta variant since June, Israel
presently has one of the world's highest infection rates per capita.
Close to 1.5 million people out of the country's 9.3 million
population have taken a third jab.
(Reporting by Jeffrey Heller and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Hugh
Lawson)
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