An Israeli study showed that Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine was 89.4 percent effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Although early evidence indicated that the coronavirus vaccines reduced the transmission of the virus, in addition to preventing disease, experts warned that the question needed to be further investigated.
The study by Pfizer, BioNTech and the Israeli Ministry of Health was the first conclusive indication that a vaccine is indeed curbing the transmission, Bloomberg reports.
The study, which was put into draft form and has not yet been evaluated by peers, also suggests that vaccination may prevent the spread of the virus by asymptomatic carriers, according to Bloomberg.
Israel has administered more vaccines per capita than any other country, with nearly half of the country’s 9.05 million people receiving the shot so far.
Israel began its national rollout of the Pfizer vaccine on December 20.
During the period covered by the study, January 17 to February 6, 80 percent of cases of the virus in Israel were a more contagious strain that was thought to have originated in England. About 27 percent of Israelis aged 15 and older were fully vaccinated by February 6, which, according to the Bloomberg study, had received their second dose more than seven days earlier.
The Israeli Ministry of Health also said the vaccine was 98 percent effective in preventing symptoms such as fever or breathing problems and 99 percent effective in preventing deaths or hospitalization, according to Reuters.
Israel has instituted a further closure after the English variant was detected, but will take up several closure measures on Sunday, including reopening schools and most retailers. The government also has the premiere of the “Green Pass”, an app that allows citizens who are fully vaccinated, or those who are vaccinated after recovery, to show their credentials to stay at hotels or attend public events, according to Reuters.