The Latest: Israel expands eligibility for booster vacines

JERUSALEM — Israel is expanding its coronavirus booster shot program to people over the age of 50.

Israel was one of the world’s leaders in vaccinating its population early this year. But in recent weeks, it has seen a surge in cases involving the more transmissible delta variant, even among individuals who were thought to be fully vaccinated.

Israel last month began offering a booster shot to people over the age of 60, becoming the first country in the world that uses a Western vaccine to do so. The campaign was expanded on Friday to people over 50 and front-line health care workers.

Health officials in the United States and Europe have not yet recommended booster shots.

World Health Organization officials have urged nations to refrain from administering extra shots, saying it is more important to inoculate the unvaccinated in poorer countries.

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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:

— Olympics now ended, Japan races to vaccinate as virus surges

— In Yemen’s north, Houthis face virus with outright denial

— US authorizes extra COVID-19 vaccine for people with weak immune systems

— American states that had grip on outbreaks seeing crush of new cases

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— Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

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One of the infected diplomats was diagnosed while visiting the U.K.'s Home Office on Thursday, the Nigerian High Commission said in a...