JERUSALEM: An Israeli health official on Monday (Jun 21) urged more 12- to 15-year-olds to be vaccinated against COVID-19, citing new outbreaks that he attributed to the more infectious Delta variant.

Israel expanded vaccine eligibility to include adolescents last month. Infections have fallen off sharply in recent weeks. Vaccination turnout has largely flatlined at around 55 per cent of the 9.3 million overall population having received both shots, implying that adults have largely stopped getting vaccinated.