Israeli health officials said Thursday they back administering one coronavirus vaccine dose to people who recovered from the pathogen at least three months prior.
Israel's National Epidemic Management Team made the recommendation to the Director-General of the Health Ministry Prof. Hezi Levi, with whom the decision on whether the adopt the policy now rests, during a special meeting of senior health officials.
While the coronavirus vaccine requires two doses for full, long term effect, the fact that those who recovered from the virus had developed a certain amount of antibodies appear to have affected the final decision.
Levi is expected to back the recommendation.
The officials also discussed whether to inform fully vaccinated people that they have been exposed to verified COVID-19 patients, whether to track their movement via cellphones and allow them to be tested for the virus.
The government, meanwhile, approved the extension of the legislation that obliges anyone returning from abroad to enter isolation in dedicated coronavirus hotels, until March 1.
According to the decision, all returnees - excluding those who'd been vaccinated with two vaccine shots - will stay in isolation for two weeks, or ten days if two coronavirus tests return negative.
The government also voted to extend the shuttering of Israel’s skies to commercial flights until March 6.
Ministers also discussed the reopening of all schools in "green" and "yellow" localities, but no new decision has been made on the issue.
The discussion was held in the wake of the widespread protests of parents against the decision to leave children in grades 7-10 at home.
"In light of the relatively widescale reopening of the economy that could lead to an increase in infections, and concerns about the impact of the British mutation and its impact on children and youth, it was decided at this stage to adopt a cautious approach and stick to the Health Ministry’s exit plan,” said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.