Israel has announced that it will offer a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to people older than 60, amid concern over the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Medical workers and those who are immunodeficient will also be eligible for the extra inoculation - at least four months after their third jab.
A Health Ministry expert panel recommended the fourth vaccine dose, a decision that was swiftly welcomed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as "great news that will help us overcome the Omicron wave that is spreading around the world."
Although the decision is pending formal approval by senior health officials, Mr Bennett urged Israelis to get the dose as soon as possible, saying: "My message is - don't waste time, go get vaccinated."
In a post on Twitter he said: "I gave an order to prepare immediately for a fourth vaccination."
A spokesperson said Israel would be the world's first country to administer the fourth shot.
Mr Bennett said: "The world will follow in our footsteps."
His remarks followed a meeting of Israel's ministerial coronavirus cabinet which convened amid growing concern over the spread of the Omicron variant.
The cabinet had issued limitations on eating in shopping malls and instructed that children in communities with high morbidity and low vaccination rates would learn from home.
Earlier today, lawmakers banned citizens and residents from US travel, adding it to a list of more than 50 countries declared off-limits in an effort to contain the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Israel's "red list" also includes Italy, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey, committee spokeswoman Ronit Gal said in a statement.
The ban comes into effect tomorrow and will remain in force for at least a week.
The decision follows the first known death in Israel of a patient with the Omicron variant.
An Israeli hospital today confirmed the death but said he had suffered from a number of serious pre-existing conditions.
