Among the nearly one million Israelis vaccinated against coronavirus so far, some 240 Israelis have been diagnosed with the virus days after they got the chance, Channel 13 News reported on Thursday.
The figure highlights the need for individuals to continue to protect themselves for weeks after vaccination, as the body takes time to develop effective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
The Pfizer vaccine is not made with the coronavirus itself, which means there is no chance of anyone catching it from the shots. Instead, the vaccine contains a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spiked protein on the surface of the virus and create antibodies to attack when it encounters the real thing.
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But this process takes time, and studies of the vaccine so far have shown that the immunity to the virus rises only 8-10 days after the first injection – and then only to about 50 percent effectiveness.
This is why the second dose of the vaccine, given 21 days after the first dose, is critical: it strengthens the immune system’s response to the virus, effectively brings it up to 95% and ensures that immunity lasts . This level of immunity is only reached about a week after the second dose – or 28 days after the first dose.
Anyone who is infected a few days before the first dose of the vaccine, or in the weeks before reaching full efficacy, is still at risk of developing symptoms (even when the vaccine has reached its highest potential, there is still a 5% chance of this).
A man receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Jerusalem on December 30, 2020. (Name Revkin Fenton / Flash90)
Another thing to note is that studies have not yet determined whether the vaccine allows the person to carry and spread the disease without becoming ill. nasal passages, out of reach of antibodies, may still contain the proliferation of virus particles.
Although it would not harm the carrier – as any virus that penetrates deeper into the body can be quickly destroyed by the trained immune system, it can still be expelled through the nose and mouth and infect others.
The vast majority of Israelis who received the vaccine have not reported any problems since given the chance. About one in a thousand people reported suffering from mild side effects, and only a few dozen sought medical help after the survey, figures published Wednesday showed.
The most common side effects reported were weakness, dizziness and fever, with 319 combined cases, the ministry said. Five also suffered from diarrhea. Another 293 people reported localized symptoms where the injection was administered, such as pain, restriction of movement, swelling, and redness.
Fourteen people said they had allergic reactions such as itching and swelling of the tongue and throat.
In addition, 26 people suffered what the ministry described as ‘neurological symptoms’, while 19 complained of a tingling in their arm.
The ministry noted that only 51 people (0.008%) of those who reported having any side effects said they had sought medical help for their symptoms.
According to the public broadcaster of Kan, there were four cases where people died in Israel shortly after receiving the vaccination, but three of the four were considered unrelated by the Ministry of Health, as well as family members and doctors. to the shots. The fourth case, an 88-year-old man who had serious health problems, is currently being investigated.