Israel starts giving 3rd COVID-19 vaccine dose

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel on Friday began administering third doses of coronavirus vaccines to people over 60 years old who got the first two jabs at least five months ago.

"Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President of the State Isaac Herzog launched a campaign to give the third complementary dose of the anti-Coronavirus vaccine, in Sheba-Tel Hashomer Hospital," the Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Bennett said the fresh push was being launched in order to care for the elderly in the country.

President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal Herzog were both seen getting the booster shot.

In recent weeks, Israel has seen a significant rise in the number of coronavirus infections.

Over the past 24 hours, the country recorded 2,140 new infections, the Health Ministry said earlier on Friday.

Critical patients number at 167, it said in a statement, while the death tally stands at 6,466.

According to ministry data, roughly 5.7 million people have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, including 5.3 million who got the full two doses.