Israel's COVID surge shows vaccines 'not enough', says public health expert

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETHwwO-MxwE"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]can you give us an overall view of where israel is at in terms of the vaccine program and in the context of these these third boosters that we're seeing at the moment so um we have indeed a very high vaccination rates uh in many ways we are a model a country we are very proud of it uh what uh can be seen in israel that vaccinations are not enough uh need to be a multi-layer approach where we have vaccinations that of course are very effective but we saw that over time there was a waning immunity uh in the last few weeks we started to vaccinate first those who are over 60 then over 40 and today there is another a discussion of the expert committee about reducing it even to over a 30 and we see already very good uh results uh there is definitely a higher coverage uh protection uh for those who are getting the third those we also see that the side effects are very similar to the first and a second dose another interesting uh new approach is that uh from yesterday after a studies showing uh the gaps in vaccination rates in israel according to socio-economic status we are much more proactive and they're getting to the houses especially in villages including in the arab community uh to increase their vaccinations rate we have a very high numb still very high number of cases widespread transmission because of the delta a variant but on the other hand we are strengthening the public healthcare system um especially hospitals but also home hospitalization by the a community we have a four health funds non-profit so the combination of all of it together with the green pass together with some limitation on uh large gatherings especially indoors all of these uh should be measures that are good for opening schools there is a special the program for for that about uh measuring also serological tests and also um uh getting into the high holidays the jewish high holidays so very challenging times but the idea of learning to live with the virus not by being passive just opposite but having an approach including vaccination and other things that's a main measure and and explain to us what measures are in place i think you alluded to it the green pass in terms of those that people who have been vaccinated does that afford you more freedoms more rights the idea of the green pass is first of all to open uh the economy uh of course it's also nagging people to be vaccinated but in terms of the ethical aspects people that are not vaccinated can either because they can't like children below age of 12 uh or for other reasons they can be tested uh israel opened many uh rapid tests uh that are available everywhere uh and i think if you take the ethical consideration from all parts i think it's a proportion that they measure we need to remember that vaccination uh you know people that are vaccinated they also have the right to be protected and i think uh having the green pass is a good idea and it's also bringing more people to be vaccinated but this is not the main reason for doing it tell me what's the the treatment of children you said uh those over 12 so at this stage children teenagers are being vaccinated are there any plans to lower that age as well can you give us an update on how israel is treating the the question of children because it's a very much a relevant and current question that australian political leaders are looking at right uh so there were many debates here in israel and very long considerations about the data uh israel actually gave the signal about the issue of myocarditis but we see that this is uh only about one to ten thousand and more than 95 percent of it uh very mild and transient this is especially among boys second joes and i need to say i myself we have three children the youngest is 14. i was vaccinated about two months a ago and there was a big debate about should we have children vaccinated at schools uh school vaccination of course is uh very old here in israel as everywhere so we are doing vaccinations also in the city squares with youth movements trying to give incentives as much as we can including at schools um including also mass or logical tests so our children are now getting more vaccines we have about 45 percent of them being vaccinated and i think this was a very successful a program and i think that a still even though that children a coffee is less severe than for adults it's much better still to be vaccinated and then both on the personal level but also on the community level to stop the spread professor nadav davidovich thank you very much joining us there live from the ben gurion university of negev appreciate it thank you<br><!-- wp:image {"id":1776,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->rn<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img class="wp-image-1776" src="https://en.videoencontexto.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Israels_COVID_surge_shows_vaccines_not_enough_says_public_health_expert_ETHwwO-MxwE.jpg" alt="Israel\'s COVID surge shows vaccines \'not enough\', says public health expert" /></figure>rn<!-- /wp:image -->[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]