The world is eye-opening, difficult when not everyone is vaccinated with us

Blitzer spoke about the results of the study published yesterday, according to which the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing disease stands at 94%. “The study was conducted by a number of scientists from the Clalit Institute for Research in Partnership with Partner Scientists at Harvard University. Yesterday we presented its initial results – And they teach that the vaccine works “, said, “Our expectation, perhaps our surprise, was that when you conduct a clinical study and publish it, its results are good. But when you come to look at those variables in the real world, you find that the results are a little less good, “he said.

He explained: “In the real world there are problems that do not exist in the controlled study. Sometimes seriously ill and older patients enter than were allowed to enter in the clinical study. So we followed the results of the real world, attached to 600,000 vaccinated certain unvaccinated controls – in personal variables, “In the geographical variables, in the morbidity variables and the risk of morbidity. We actually created a group in which each person was attached to a person most similar to him, we connected them, and we monitor and coordinate over time as well.”

Blitzer said the study lasted weeks. “This is a very difficult procedure. We have preferred not to take out pieces of information over the last few weeks, with data here and data here, but to wait for it to be sorted out. Once we have finished and we have a result we can say clearly – The vaccine prevents 94% of symptomatic infections“That is, with corona symptoms, which is very similar to 95% of sympathetic infections avoided in a clinical study.”

– Did you also use this data to check the infection data? Something Pfizer did not do.
“We now examine the whole issue of infection in two forms. One – in retrospective studies. We have several studies, similar to this study, that look back and use all sorts of methods to assess whether it really lowers infection. And we also have a prospective follow-up study, which we follow. A fairly large group of people are systematically taking surfaces from them to know the answer. “

According to Blitzer, these results are not yet available: “It will take some more time to get the unequivocal answer to these questions, but as here, also there, we are waiting for clear answers scientifically.”

– But there are already indications? Presumably this is an issue that the whole world is looking up to.
“We try not to give indications when we do not have a deep understanding of the results and enough information that holds up statistically to say certain things. We will wait a little longer to get the scientific assurance.”

– What reactions did you get from your colleagues in the world? How many in the world were happy to hear about these results?
“Very very happy. The world is looking up to these vaccines. This is the only great hope we have to get out of this crisis, to rehabilitate the economy, to rehabilitate society and the vaccine seems to give us real hope. I mention that when they went out these studies hoped for 50% efficacy, 60% “Efficiency, something that will ease the pain, but we did not expect it to give us a real solution, that it would allow us to return to life in the way that this vaccine allows us.”

Blitzer commented on the state of vaccines in Israel: “This is the country with the largest access to vaccines in the world today, and I have a hard time with the fact that there are about 500,000 people aged 40-60 who have not been vaccinated. In this age group, people do not know it, there are 30% “Once again: 30% of the respirators are between the ages of 40 and 60. Once they become infected, 1 in 30 will develop a serious illness.”

Ahead of the expected coronation cabinet meeting today, which will discuss the opening of trade, Blitzer said: “The government has twice tried the trick of ignoring the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, not opening casually and hoping it ends well. Twice it did not end so well. “One of these times we did not try to go out with 5,000 infected people a day and hope for the best. It does not connect together.”

To the position of the head of the expert team, “We need to get out of quarantine and very soon need outlines that are based on the green passport and give freedom to the outlines of culture, commerce, religion, of all these things that are so important to us and based on the green passport. “The steps are a period of two weeks, to understand what we did, to understand what the R is, where we got to, if we lost control and accordingly move forward. I think that those who do not learn from history will end up repeating it. And this is not history they want to repeat.”

– What is your message to those ministers who demand to open this week also the culture, tourism, leisure, gyms and trade?
“It is never possible to know in retrospect ‘what would have happened if’, but I think twice we have tried not to work in a method that is recommended all over the world – of clear, predetermined steps that give clear hope to the public and businesses and provide them with set dates. Once this thing is defined and processed according to recommendations Of the Ministry of Health, we will come out safer.

“Is it possible that they will take a risk and it will not materialize and it will be okay? Could it be. Did it happen last time? No. Is this exactly what will happen this time? About 5,000 people get infected every day, why think an immediate opening before we understand what happens to R is A safe thing to do? I do not know. The values ​​here clash. It’s a matter of risk management, I can understand anyone trying to go here. If I had decided, I would have said two weeks between openings “And the next opening will be massive and significant in a week, with the opening of as many outlines as possible with a green passport and the vaccinated people with the lower risk of infection and the lower risk of developing a serious illness – open to them culture, commerce, of course careful education with all restrictions recommended by the Cabinet of Experts.”

– What are your recommendations for Purim?
“The Cabinet of Experts has not yet given a concrete recommendation regarding Purim, we have not been asked about it. I guess our next meeting will deal with that. Traditionally I am more concerned with the everyday than with one-day events. That is, our routine and the daily decisions of each of us – to go and enter closed spaces that have a lot of people and do it without being careful, without keeping distance, without ventilating, without masks. It scares me more on a daily basis than a one-day event like Purim. “

However, Blitzer argued, “There is no doubt that a Purim event along with a mass event may be a sub-event. I do not like to prophesy, I do very little to do so, nor do I like to warn of such and such events. Is there cause for concern? I suppose so, But say again – the most important thing is that everyone keeps to the principles: ventilation, mask, distance. “Do not take unnecessary risks at this time, we are not out of danger and even the vaccinated do not have a recurrence, they can still be infected. 92% effectiveness against a serious illness, still leaving 8%.