Israel’s tsar coronavirus has warned that a single dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine could provide less protection than initially hoped, as the country reported 10,000 new Covid infections.
In comments made by Army Radio, Nachman Ash said one dose appeared to be “lower than we expected”, and also lower than Pfizer had recommended.
In contrast, those who received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine had a six to 12-fold increase in antibodies, according to data released by Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer on Monday.
Some vaccines are known to be less effective after a known dose than two, as well as not immediate protection. While the first dose takes several weeks to promote an effective antibody response, the second dose can stimulate different responses, overriding the immune system. Pfizer itself claims that a single dose of its vaccine is around 52% effective. Some countries such as the UK have delayed administering the second dose to try to increase the number of people receiving the first dose.
Questions about the effectiveness of the vaccine have been raised amid reports that thousands of Israelis are still becoming ill after receiving the vaccine, although the head of public health services, Sharon Alroy-Preis, said most that this was because the individuals had not picked up enough antibodies after ingestion before being exposed to the virus.
The latest figures for Israel, which has implemented one of the fastest national vaccination efforts, confirm the major challenges still facing the world even in countries with aggressive coronavirus vaccination programs .
Already more than 2 million Israelis have got their first Pfizer view, and 400,000 have got a second.
Amid warnings that 30% to 40% of new infections were caused by the Covid-19 variable first identified in the UK, the Israeli cabinet was meeting on Tuesday to discuss tightening the restrictions. there. Some analysts, however, have set the frequency of the new change at lower levels.
The cabinet was warned by Ash that the new variant was going to be a major source of disease in Israel within weeks.
The new concern follows the release of data Monday by the Israeli health ministry recording 10,021 infections the day before, with a favorable rate above the 10% mark for the first time in more than three months, suggesting widespread community distribution.
The levels of disease have eroded the sense of hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to rally around an Israeli vaccination campaign, which he has credited.
Opening the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Netanyahu said: “We are in a tight race between the vaccine campaign and the high rates of disease in the world because of the imitation.” He called for a “last ditch attempt” against the virus.
Israel is in the middle of the third lockout, coming to an end Thursday. Other measures under consideration include the closure of the country’s main airport, Ben Gurion International Airport, to all necessary flights.
The rise in new cases has fueled around finger-pointing, especially at the lax policing of the ultra-orthodox community, where some schools have remained open and there have been large gatherings. , including a wedding in Bnei Brak on Monday, described as “smart”, which attracted 300 guests before being attacked by police.
Describing the impact of the new coronavirus mutation, Alroy-Preis told Kan radio that the new mutation appeared to have a significant impact on diseases in the ultraviolet community.
“We are seeing very, very rapid and rapid infections and it is really a race between this and the vaccine,” said Alroy-Preis, adding that one person who had recently returned from the UK at 20 Take 30 people.