Israel is stepping up its vaccination campaign even further. In a document released on July 27, the Israeli Ministry of Health gave the green light to health insurance funds to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 who are “at significant risk of serious illness or death in the home. following an infection with the new coronavirus “.

“This is a special authorization and each vaccination will be studied on a case-by-case basis “, a spokesperson for the ministry told AFP on Wednesday. “This authorization takes effect on August 1“, he added.

Only children at risk are concerned

To reassure the population, still worried about the issue of childhood vaccination, the ministry insists:

“Vaccination of (all) children aged 5 to 11 is not recommended at this time“, stressing that it was reserved for the most vulnerable children.

According to the ministry’s directive, children with severe chronic lung disease, severe immunosuppression, neurodevelopmental disorders, sickle cell anemia, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and severe obesity may be given a dose of 0.1 ml of Pfizer vaccine, three times less than the standard dose.

Vaccination already possible in France

In France, according to figures from Public Health France, around 7,000 children under the age of twelve have already received a dose. These are authorizations issued case by case for children at very high risk of severe form of Covid-19.

For the time being, several clinical trials are underway (Pfizer and Moderna), but no decision regarding the opening of vaccination for children under 12 has been taken.

A return of contaminations in Israel that worries

About 55% of Israel’s population has been fully vaccinated thanks to a massive campaign launched in late December after a deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

He delivered millions of doses to the country in exchange for data on the effects of vaccination in the country of 9.3 million people, used for rapid large-scale studies.

Read also: Covid vaccination: Israel, the underside of a success

In early June, the authorities extended vaccination to young people aged 12 to 16. Faced with an increase in contamination in recent weeks, the Hebrew state announced a partial return to the health pass from July 29.

Only people fully vaccinated, cured of Covid-19 or with a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours will be allowed to enter a place accommodating more than 100 people, indoors or outdoors.