On December 30, 2021, Israel is the first country to approve a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose “as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the Omicron variant”. Trials only started 7 days prior. The 2nd booster will begin roll out in the “vulnerable to COVID-19” and will “broaden this recommendation” if the data warrants it. [1]
Israel has “led the world” in their COVID-19 vaccination program, starting 1 year ago on December 20, 2020, after a deal was struck with Pfizer. [2]
In April 2021, after 80% of the population had received 2 doses, mask mandates were removed and the Israel economy began opened up – their vaccine program was said to be a “model for the world” to end the pandemic. Then the Delta variant infected the vaccinated, and the first boosters (3rd vaccine dose) were rolled out late July 2021, starting with the elderly then mandated to 2-dosed persons, making the “fully vaccinated” instantly “unvaccinated“. [3]
Now they are one of the first countries to receive Pfizer’s Paxlovid COVID-19 oral drug.
Australia’s National Cabinet are pushing for 3 jabs to be considered “fully vaccinated”, but ATAGI in November did not consider a booster as a requirement, and on Dec 24th only considered the immunocompromised for boosters. The “required dose” as the TGA defined is the “recommendations made by the Australian Sponsor of the relevant vaccine”; the sponsor is the vaccine manufacturer. So is it ATAGI or the vaccine manufacture who determines the dose “requirement” to be considered fully vaccinated?