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Fourth shot enhances COVID resistance for people over 60: Israeli study

A fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose given to those over age 60 made them three times more resistant to serious illness than those who received three shots, a study released by Israel’s Health Ministry on Sunday found.

The fourth dose, or second booster, also made older adults twice as resistant to infection as the thrice-vaccinated people in the same age group, the study said.

The research compared data from about 400,000 people over 60 who received the second booster with 600,000 people in the same age group who were given a third shot four months earlier.

The findings are in contrast to a preliminary study published by Israel’s Sheba medical center a week ago that found a fourth shot increases antibodies to even higher levels than the third — but not to the point where it could completely fend off Omicron.

The new study published Sunday was conducted with several major Israeli universities and the Sheba medical center.

A fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose given to those over 60 years old made them three times more resistant to serious illness. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Israel started offering the second booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine to people over 60 earlier this month as the Omicron variant raged.

Nearly 600,000 Israelis have already received the fourth shot, according to the country’s latest data.

Israel — like the US and other countries — has seen COVID-19 cases surge due to Omicron.

Israel started offering the second booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine to people over 60 earlier this month. Jack Huez/AFP via Getty Images
Nearly 600,000 Israelis have already received the fourth shot. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Deaths, which usually lag about three weeks behind cases, haven’t spiked in Israel — with just two fatalities reported Friday due to COVID.

With Post wires