Ten months after Israel launched its coronavirus inoculation campaign, the Health Ministry announced on Monday that the country's health funds will begin offering citizens the AstraZeneca vaccine starting Thursday.
The vast majority of those vaccinated in Israel have received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, while a smaller amount of Moderna vaccines have also been administered in recent months.
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A health worker in Thailand prepares a dose of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine
(Photo: EPA)
According to a statement from the ministry, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company's vaccine will be available to Israelis over the age of 18 who are unable to receive Pfizer and Moderna's jabs due to their mRNA technology.
The vaccination will only be given with a doctor's referral.
Both individuals who receive two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and those who complete their immunization regimen with a dose of AstraZeneca after receiving a Pfizer shot will be considered fully protected 14 days after receiving their second shot and will become eligible for a Health Ministry-issued vaccination certificate.
in addition, individuals who receive a dose of AstraZeneca as a booster shot at least five months after completing the original two-dose vaccination regimen will be considered fully inoculated after two weeks as opposed to seven days after receiving a dose of Pfizer's vaccine.
AstraZeneca uses a weakened animal virus as a viral vector, and it contains the coronavirus spike protein so that the body’s cells will be able to recognize and produce antibodies against it.
As is the case with Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines, AstraZeneca also requires two doses.