A major Israeli hospital will begin administering a fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot to 150 staff today in a trial aimed at gauging whether a second booster is necessary nationwide, the facility said. Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv said its trial would shed light on the efficacy of a fourth dose and help decision-makers set health policy in Israel and abroad.<br />'' <br />'' Israel has reported 1,118 confirmed cases of the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant, with the number of people infected by it doubling every two days.<br />'' <br />'' A Health Ministry panel of experts has recommended offering a fourth dose of vaccine to Israelis aged 60 and over who received a booster shot at least four months ago.<br />'' <br />'' But final approval by the ministry's director-general is still pending amid public debate as to whether sufficient scientific information is available to justify a new booster drive.<br />''<br />''Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said he tested negative yesterday on Sunday for COVID-19 after his 14-year-old daughter was infected.