The ‘magic’ of Israel’s vaccine has started to work as coronavirus cases at vulnerable ages have declined since the second dose of Pfizer was distributed.
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 started administering the second dose on January 10 and a large divergence in the number of cases between the older and younger age groups shows that the vaccine is taking hold.
Daily case rates for people over 60 plummeted 46 percent compared to the mid-January peak, while there was a much smaller 18 percent drop in infections among those under 60, a new study by the Weizmann Institute of Tel Aviv.
NEW POSITIVE CASES (weekly rolling figure): The second dose was distributed from January 10
NEW HOSPITAL CASES (weekly rolling number): Over 60 years were the first group inoculated and saw a 35 percent drop in cases, a 30 percent decline in hospitalizations and a 20 percent drop in critically ill people in the two weeks to February 1st
Joseph Zalman Kleinman, 92, a holocaust survivor, receives his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, administered by Rachel Atias from the United Hatzalah paramedic service at the Clalit Health Services vaccination center in a sports arena in Jerusalem, Thursday, January 21th
As of Thursday, 78 percent of people over 60 had received two doses of the Pfizer jab.
Hospital admissions fell 35 percent compared to mid-January, while hospitalizations for younger adults have remained stable and are even slightly higher now.
A similar disparity is seen in hospital admissions, with a 30 percent decline for those over 60 in the two weeks to February 1.
There was also a 20 percent drop in patients who became seriously ill in the older age group in that period.
Another study by the Israel Institute of Technology showed that the Pfizer jab was between 66 to 85 percent effective in preventing infections and 87 to 96 percent effective in preventing serious illnesses.
These figures suggest that the vaccine is not as effective as Pfizer’s own data showed, but it is still very strong results.
The study’s author, Professor Dvir Aran, told The Telegraph: ‘Our sensitivity analysis provides an estimate of the vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing positive and severe cases.
‘Although this estimate is less than the effectiveness of [Pfizer trial] it is still substantive and provides assurance for the vaccine’s effectiveness. ‘
But the study also found that a coup is not “very effective” against Covid.
Britain decided to extend the interval between doses of the three weeks recommended by Pfizer to 12 weeks because of the unpredictability of supplies.
“We see that immediately after the second dose the effectiveness increases”, said Prof. Aran.
However, he noted that this may be because it takes time for the first dose to work – probably around two weeks.
“We will have to wait to see the UK figures,” he added.
Announcing the Weizmann Institute’s findings on Monday, the lead author, Professor Eran Segal, a computer scientist, said: ‘We say cautiously, the magic has begun.’
He said that he expected the results to be shown earlier in the data, but that the impact of the jab may have been undermined by the mutant variant of Kent.
‘The UK variant is also the dominant one here now and if the reports are correct, this not only spreads faster, but also causes more serious illnesses. This may have been another factor that offset the [early] vaccine impact, ‘Prof Segal added.
When cases started to fall, it was unclear whether this was due to Pfzer jabs or a new national blockade imposed on 8 January.
But the new data provides strong evidence that this is due to vaccines.
‘The effect is stronger [among older people] than in younger populations that were later vaccinated, and these patterns were not seen in the previous block, ‘said Prof. Segal.
A young man getting a vaccine in Jerusalem on Thursday, while Israel leads the world in vaccine betting and starts inoculating younger age groups
A nurse prepares a jab in a sports arena in Jerusalem
Israel announced yesterday that it will ease the blockade measures from Sunday morning, but will keep its international airport closed until February 20, as cases are easing.
“The most important thing is that all Israeli men and women over 50 are vaccinated,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised speech.
‘Get vaccinated. Vaccines work. ‘
Israel has recorded a daily average of 6,500 new cases of Covid-19, down from around 8,000 in mid-January, official figures show.
A strict blockade across the country has been extended four times to combat the infection rate, but January was the deadliest month, with more than 1,000 deaths in Covid.
Israel recorded a total of more than 675,000 cases of Covid-19, including more than 5,000 deaths.
With easing, Israelis will no longer be restricted to 500 meters from their homes, and services such as hairdressers and beauty salons will be allowed to operate, and nature reserves and national parks will be reopened.
Hotels remain closed and restaurants can only serve take-out food.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, where international flights have been suspended since January 24, will remain closed until February 20, the government said.
Land borders must remain closed.
Since December, more than 3.3 million of Israel’s nine million population has received their first injection of coronavirus vaccines.