Israel starts administering third Pfizer dose to people with weak immune systems

Israel on Monday started administering third Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shots to people with weak immune systems.

Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz on Sunday announced that adults with compromised immune systems who have already been fully inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine can receive a booster shot, effective immediately.

On Monday, those shots began going into arms, according to The Washington Post.

The recommendation for the third shot said the goal of the new effort was to increase antibody levels in immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients, people who have undergone liver transplants and others who have shown to have weak protection from the vaccine, according to the Post.

The recommendation, however, reportedly said the government is still unsure if it will administer third shots to the general adult population.

The news of Israel’s booster shot comes as concerns are rising regarding the more virulent COVID-19 delta variant, which is spreading rapidly across the globe.

Pfizer and BioNTech announced last week that they plan to ask the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for authorization on a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine, contending that it would provide even stronger protection.

Pfizer officials reportedly met with top U.S. health officials to discuss the potential need for a booster shot for some Americans, mainly the elderly and immunocompromised, six to 12 months after completing the original vaccination series, the Post reported.

Anthony Fauci, the U.S.’s leading infectious disease doctor, said this weekend that it is not necessary for Americans to get a COVID-19 booster shot, according to current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA.