Israeli survey finds 3rd Pfizer vaccine dose has similar side effects to 2nd

An Israeli health worker administers a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine at the new vaccination centre for Clalit Health Services in Jerusalem's Cinema City complex on August 8, 2021. - AFP

JERUSALEM: Most people who received a third dose of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine felt similar or fewer side effects than they did after receiving the second shot, according to an initial survey in Israel.

Israel began offering the booster shots about 10 days ago to people over age 60 as part of efforts to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. That effectively turned Israel into a testing ground for a third dose before approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.