Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett receives a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in the central Israeli city of Kfar Sab in August. Photo: Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Tuesday he's ordered the rollout of a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in response to the threat of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
Why it matters: Israel is believed to be the first country to offer a fourth coronavirus dose to citizens.
What's happening: Israel's government is offering fourth doses to residents aged over 60 and those with compromised immune systems.
What they're saying: "The citizens of Israel were the first in the world to receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and we are continuing to pioneer with the fourth dose as well," Bennett said in a statement to news outlets.
Go deeper: Israel bans travel to U.S. and Canada over Omicron variant