Israeli health minister gets virus booster jab

Israel's Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz on Friday received his third COVID-19 vaccine jab on Friday, as country continues rolling out booster shots.

After getting jab, he called on citizens over age of 50 "to go and get vaccinated as soon as possible."

Israel is expanding its coronavirus booster shot program to people aged 50 and older.

country was one of world's leers in vaccinating its population early this year.

But in recent weeks, it has seen a surge in cases of delta variant, even among those who are alrey vaccinated.

Israel last month began offering a booster shot to people over age of 60, becoming first country in world that uses a Western vaccine to do so.

Health officials in U.S. and Europe have not yet recommended booster shots, while U.N. health officials have recommended against it, saying it is more important to inoculate unvaccinated in poorer countries.

Israel's campaign was expanded on Friday to people over 50 and front-line health care workers.

Health Ministry recorded 6,083 new cases on Thursday, serious cases have grown from 19 in mid-June to 462.

At least 6,611 Israelis have died from coronavirus since start of pandemic, according to figures by Health Ministry .