The coronavirus vaccination for children aged 12-15 is set to begin next week, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.
Maccabi Healthcare Services announced later in the day that it will administer the first jabs to this age group, and parents of the children will be able to make appointments beginning Thursday evening.
The move followed several weeks of consultations with experts after the US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization on May 11 to use the Pfizer vaccine on this age group.
Among other problems, the ministry had been considering a possible connection between the vaccine and some myocarditis cases – a heart inflammation.
On Tuesday, a report on the issue was released, showing that some cases were likely connected to the vaccine. Many of them occurred in men aged 16-30 and especially 16-19. Over 95% were considered mild.
“In consideration of the information we published yesterday, it should be kept in mind that the risk from complications after getting infected with the coronavirus is higher than the risk in receiving the vaccine. The rate of heart inflammation among 16-19-year-olds was low, and in most cases it passed without complications,” the ministry said in a statement.
In light of the extremely low morbidity rate in Israel, the ministry decided to recommend the vaccine for at-risk groups, including children with preexisting conditions and children who are going to fly abroad, as well as to open up the opportunity to get vaccinated for all those in the age group.
“The vaccine is safe and effective,” the ministry said.
Health Ministry Director-General Chezy Levy is currently coordinating the logistics with the healthcare providers in charge of administering inoculations.
The vaccination campaign is expected to begin over the course of next week, according to the ministry.