The “magic” of the Israeli vaccine has begun to work, as cases of coronavirus among vulnerable ages have sunk since the elimination of the second dose of Pfizer.
But in a blow to Britain’s strategy of leaving 12 weeks between injections, the new study warns that the first dose is not “very effective” in reducing cases.
Israel began administering the second dose on January 10, and a sharp divergence in the number of cases between the older and younger age groups shows that the jab is catching on.
Daily case rates for people over the age of 60 fell by 46% compared to the peak in mid-January, while there was an 18% decrease in infections among people under the age of 60, a new figure showed. study of the Weizmann Institute in Tel Aviv.
NEW POSITIVE CASES (continuous weekly figure): The second dose has been distributed since January 10
NEW CASES IN HOSPITAL (continuous weekly figure): In 60 years they were the first group inoculated and recorded a 35% decrease in cases, a 30% decrease in hospitalizations and a 20% decrease in those who become seriously ill in the two weeks until February 1
Joseph Zalman Kleinman, 92, Holocaust survivor, receives second dose of Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 administered by Rachel Atias of United Hatzalah Paramedic at Clalit Health Services Vaccination Center at a sports arena in Jerusalem on Thursday , January 21st
As of Thursday, 78 percent of those over 60 had received two doses of Jab Pfizer.
Hospitalizations have dropped by 35% compared to mid-January, while hospitalizations for younger adults have remained flat and are even slightly higher now.
A similar difference is observed in hospital admissions, with a decrease of 30% for those over 60 in the two weeks until February 1.
There was also a 20% decrease in patients who became seriously ill in the older age group at that time.
Another study by the Israeli Institute of Technology showed that Pfizer was between 66 and 85% effective in preventing infection and 87-96% effective in stopping severe disease.
These figures suggest that the vaccine is not as effective as Pfizer’s own data have shown, but it is still a very strong result.
The author of the study, Professor Dvir Aran, told The Telegraph: “Our sensitivity analysis provides an estimate of the vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing positive and severe cases.
“While this estimate is lower than the effectiveness [Pfizer trial] it is still substantial and provides assurance for the vaccine’s effectiveness. ”
But the study also found that a single blow is not “very effective” against Covid.
The UK has decided to extend the dose range from the three weeks recommended by Pfizer to 12 weeks due to unpredictable supplies.
“We see that immediately after the second dose the effectiveness increases,” said Prof. Aran.
However, he noted that this may be due to the fact that it takes time for the first dose to work – considered to be around two weeks.
“We will have to wait and see numbers from the UK,” he added.
Announcing the findings of the Weizmann Institute on Monday, the lead author, Professor Eran Segal, a computer scientist, said: “We say with caution, the magic has begun.”
He said the results were expected to appear faster in the data, but that the impact of the jab could have been affected by the Kent mutant variant.
“The UK variant is also dominant now and if the reports are correct, it not only spreads faster, but also causes more severe diseases. This could have been another factor that compensated [early] the impact of the vaccine, added Prof Segal.
When cases began to fall, it was not immediately clear whether this was due to Pfzer strikes or a new national blockade imposed on January 8.
But new data provides strong evidence that this is due to vaccines.
The effect is stronger [among older people] than in younger populations who were to be vaccinated later, and these patterns were not seen in the previous blockade, said Prof. Segal.
A young man receives a vaccine in Jerusalem on Thursday as Israel leads the world in vaccine stakes and has begun inoculating younger age groups
A nurse prepares a jab at a sports arena in Jerusalem
Israel announced yesterday that it will ease the blockade measures on Sunday morning, but will keep its international airport closed until February 20, as cases fall.
“The most important thing is that all Israeli men and women over the age of 50 be vaccinated,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address.
“Go vaccinated. Vaccines work.
Israel recorded a daily average of 6,500 new Covid-19 cases, down from about 8,000 in mid-January, official figures show.
A strict nationwide blockade was extended four times to fight the infection rate, but January was the deadliest month, with more than 1,000 Covid deaths.
Israel has a total of more than 675,000 cases of Covid-19, including more than 5,000 deaths.
During the relaxation, the Israelis will no longer be limited to less than 500 meters from their homes, and services such as hairdressing and beauty salons will be allowed to operate, and nature reserves and national parks will be reopened.
Hotels remain closed, and restaurants will only be allowed to serve dining.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, where international flights have been suspended since Jan. 24, will remain closed until Feb. 20, the government said.
Land borders will remain closed.
Since December, more than 3.3 million of Israel’s nine million people have received their first shot of coronavirus vaccines.