<Anchor> In
Korea, the spread of Corona has slowed somewhat due to strengthening social distancing, but we cannot be relieved when we look at the situation in major countries where the number of patients is skyrocketing due to the spread of Omicron mutation. As mentioned earlier, the rate of spread of Omicron mutations in Korea is also fast. The response to this highly contagious omicron mutation is the current vaccine booster, and Israel has decided to enter the world's first second booster dose, that is, the fourth dose of the vaccine, for all seniors over 60 years of age.
Correspondent Lee Kyung-won.
<Reporter>
Israel announced that it would expand the target of the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all seniors aged 60 and over.
At the end of last month, we approved a limited fourth vaccination for patients with weakened immunity and the elderly living in nursing homes, but this time we have significantly expanded the target of vaccination.
It seems to reflect the situation in which highly infective omicron mutations are spreading rapidly.
[Naphthali Bennett/Prime Minister of Israel: Omicron is in a different phase than the delta transformation. We must act quickly and decisively.] In
fact, the number of new confirmed cases has risen from 1,000 three weeks ago to 5,000 recently.
The problem is this month.
Israeli researchers have warned that the cumulative number of confirmed cases could reach up to 4 million within this month.
Considering the cumulative number of confirmed cases so far is 1.4 million, it is possible that there will be more than double the number of new confirmed cases in the future.
Israeli health authorities also emphasized the need to achieve herd immunity through vaccination, saying that an explosive spread of Omicron could come at a cost.
In Israel, where the world's first vaccine booster shot, or third dose, was administered last year, about 60% of the total population of 9.4 million has completed the second dose.