Team suggests reassessing plans to further ease restrictions; new mutation on rise in NYC shares characteristics with South African strain, may curb vaccine effectiveness

Significant number of recent cases contain mutation that could potentially weaken the effectiveness of existing vaccines

Many countries are now weighing their own certification systems, while grappling with moral questions over the prospect of dividing the world along lines of vaccine access

Off the national grid and with conspiracy theories and fears of inoculation running rampant, few have elected to get the shots to protect themselves from COVID-19

US pharmaceutical firm, together with its German partner BioNTech, also looking at effects of a third dose of existing inoculation

Medical professionals warn efforts to get all-important unvaccinated segment of Israel's adult population inoculated could take a hit if the nighttime closure is unevenly enforced

Move comes after AG asks for clarifications on initiative, Gantz demands halt to shipments, citing poor decision-making process; plane carrying jabs from Israel lands in Honduras

Research shows extra-infectious virus variant has proven 45% more transmissible in country, but vaccination halted its rise among at-risk populations, saving ‘many’ lives

Defense chief says PM must convene security cabinet to discuss matter, laments that decision to give away doses was made ‘behind the backs of relevant officials’

Doses intended for thousands of Palestinian worshipers gathering for Friday prayers; Abbas said to refuse over concern of Israeli show of authority at iconic Al-Aqsa Mosque