Israel has granted approval for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine jab for vulnerable people, amid a surge in Omicron-driven COVID-19 cases.

Health ministry director-general Nachman Ash said that he has approved giving the fourth vaccine shot to immunocompromised individuals. Ash said that the decision has been taken considering studies showing the benefit of the vaccine, including the fourth jab, for this population, and due to the concern that they are more vulnerable in the Omicron outbreak. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said that the country was witnessing a fifth wave, and most of the cases were possibly related to the Omicron variant.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, "Israel will lead the way in administering a fourth vaccine to the Israeli people." (HT – AFP, December 31, 2021)