Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to Covid-19, becoming the first country to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.
Nachman Ash, the director general of Israel's Health Ministry, announced the decision at a press conference late on Thursday (local time).
He says the decision is based on early research, and that officials will consider expanding the administration of a fourth dose to more of the public as they assess the situation.
Israel was among the first countries to roll out Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine a year ago and began freely offering boosters last summer. But it still saw a wave of infections blamed on the Delta variant, and officials have warned of another driven by the fast-spreading Omicron.
![Professor Jacov Lavee receives a fourth dose of the Pfizer vaccine, at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2ES43PD2Z2XBTXFKOQM56G4VRI.jpg?auth=7618c7d626a6d23c3311b956c47998bfabc480b27472609f835b1d2ca8ac8f39&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)