Israel’s ‘magic’ vaccine has started working as cases of coronavirus have plummeted under vulnerable ages since the second dose of Pfizer was handed out.
But in a push for the UK strategy to allow twelve 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 clear deviation from the consequences between the older and younger age groups shows that the sting is taking hold.
Daily cases for people over 60 dropped by 46 percent compared to the mid-January peak, while there was a smaller 18 percent decrease in infections under the age of 60, a new study by the Weizmann Institute in Tel Aviv.
NEW POSITIVE CASES (weekly figure): The second dose was completed from 10 January
NEW CASE IN HOSPITAL (weekly figure): more than 60 were the first group to be vaccinated and dropped by 35 per cent in cases, with a 30 per cent decrease in hospitalizations and by 20 per cent of those who became seriously ill in the two weeks to February 1
Joseph Zalman Kleinman (92), a Holocaust survivor, receives his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, administered by Rachel Atias of United Hatzalah paramedics at the Clalit Health Services vaccination center at a sports arena in Jerusalem , Thursday 21 January.
As of Thursday, 78 percent of those older than 60 had received two doses of Pfizer jab.
Hospital admissions dropped by 35 percent compared to mid-January, while admissions for younger adults remained flat and are now even slightly higher.
In the hospital admissions, a similar difference is seen, with a 30 percent decrease for those over 60 in the two weeks to February 1st.
There was also a 20 percent decrease in the patients who became seriously ill in the older age group during that period.
Another study by the Israel Institute of Technology showed that the Pfizer jab was between 66 and 85 percent effective in preventing infection and 87 to 96 percent effective in stopping serious diseases.
According to the figures, the vaccine is not as effective as Pfizer’s own data has shown, but it is nevertheless 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 lower than the efficiency of the [Pfizer trial] it is still essential and ensures the effectiveness of the vaccine. ‘
But the study also found that one jab is not ‘very effective’ against Covid.
Britain has decided to extend the dose between the three weeks recommended by Pfizer to 12 weeks due to the unpredictable supply.
“We see that the effectiveness jumps immediately after the second dose,” said prof. Aran said.
However, he noted that it could be because it takes time before the first dose works – presumably about two weeks.
“We will have to wait and see numbers from the UK,” he added.
Chief author Professor Eran Segal, a computer scientist, on Monday announced the findings of the Weizmann Institute: “We say with caution that the magic has begun.”
He said they expected the results to appear earlier in the data, but that the impact of the sting may have been obscured by the Kent mutant variant.
‘The British variant is also the dominant one here and if the reports are correct, it not only spreads faster, but also causes worse diseases. This may be another factor affecting the offsetting of the [early] impact of the vaccine, ‘added Prof Segal.
When the cases first started falling, it was not immediately clear whether it was the Pfzer jabs or a new national exclusion imposed on 8 January.
But the new data provide strong evidence that these are the vaccines.
‘The effect is stronger [among older people] as in the younger population who later had to be vaccinated, and these patterns were not seen in the previous exclusion, ‘said prof. Segal said.
A young man receiving a vaccine in Jerusalem on Thursday while Israel leads the world in the vaccines and began vaccinating the younger age groups
A nurse prepares a jab at a sports arena in Jerusalem
Israel announced yesterday that it would facilitate the closure measures on Sunday morning, but that its international airport would be closed until February 20 if business falls.
“What is most important is that all Israeli men and women over the age of 50 be vaccinated,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised speech.
‘Going to be vaccinated. The vaccines work. ‘
Israel registered a daily average of 6,500 new Covid-19 cases, compared to about 8,000 in mid-January, according to official figures.
A strict nationwide exclusion has been extended four times to combat the infection rate, but January was the deadliest month with more than 1,000 Covid deaths.
In total, Israel has registered more than 675,000 cases of Covid-19, including more than 5,000 deaths.
Under the relaxation, Israelis will no longer be restricted within 500 meters of their homes, and services such as hair and beauty salons will be allowed and nature reserves and national parks reopened.
Hotels remain closed and restaurants will only cater for takeaways.
The Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, 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 people have received a first batch of coronavirus vaccines.