Israeli vaccine ‘magic’ has begun to work as cases of coronavirus among vulnerable ages have dived since the second dose of Pfizer was administered.
But in a blow to Britain’s strategy of leaving 12 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 strong separation in the burden of cases between the older and younger age groups indicates that the injection is catching on.
Daily case rates for people over 60 have fallen 46 percent compared to the mid-January peak, while disease incidence among children under 60 fell much less than 18 percent, a new study by the Institute showed Weizmann in Tel Aviv.
NEW POSITIVE CASES (continuous weekly figure): second dose issued from 10 January
NEW HOSPITAL CASES (continuous weekly figure): More than 60 were the first group admitted and have fallen by 35 per cent in cases, 30 per cent falling in hospitals and a 20 percent drop in those seriously ill in the two weeks to Feb. 1
Holocaust survivor Joseph Zalman Kleinman, 92, will receive the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, administered by Rachel Atias of United Hatzalah paramedic service at the Clalit Health Services vaccine center at a sports field in Jerusalem, Thursday, January 21st
On Thursday, 78 percent of people over 60 had received two doses of Pfizer injection.
Hospital admissions have dropped 35 percent compared to mid-January, and admissions for younger adults have remained flat and are even slightly higher now.
The same difference is evident in hospital admissions, with a 30 percent decline for people over 60 in the two weeks to February 1st.
There was also a 20 percent drop in critically ill patients in the older age group in that period.
Another study by the Israeli Institute of Technology showed that the Pfizer injection was between 66 to 85 percent effective in preventing infection and 87 to 96 percent effective in preventing serious infection.
These figures suggest that vaccination is less effective in Pfizer ‘s own data, but they are nonetheless very strong results.
The author of the study, Dr Dvir Aran, told the Telegraph: ‘Our sensitivity analysis provides an estimate for the effectiveness of the vaccine in reducing both advanced and adverse cases.
Although this estimate is lower than the efficiency of the [Pfizer trial] it is still meaningful and provides reassurance for vaccine efficacy. ‘
But the study also found that one injection is not ‘very effective’ against Covid.
Britain decided to extend the interval between doses from the three weeks recommended by Pfizer to 12 weeks due to supply instability.
‘We will see that just after the second dose that the efficiencies are jumping,’ said Dr. Said Aran.
However, he noted that this may be because it takes time for the first dose to work – which is believed to be around two weeks.
‘We’ll have to wait and see numbers from the UK,’ he said.
Announcing the findings of the Weizmann Institute on Monday, lead author Dr Eran Segal, a computer scientist, said: ‘We say cautiously, the magic has begun.’
He said they expected results to appear faster in the data but that the effect of the injection may have been negated by the Kent mutant variable.
‘The UK variant is the biggest one here now and if the reports are correct, not only does it spread faster, but it also causes a more serious disease. This may be another reason to turn off the [early] the effect of the vaccine, ‘added Dr Segal.
When things first started to fall apart it was not immediately clear whether this was due to Pfzer jabs or a new national lockout imposed on January 8th.
But the new data provide strong evidence that this is about the vaccines.
‘The effect is stronger [among older people] than in the younger numbers who were subsequently vaccinated, and these patterns were not evident in the previous lock, ‘Prof. Segal said.
A young man who gets vaccinated in Jerusalem on Thursday as Israel leads the world in the vaccination pledges and has begun to protect the youngest age groups
A nurse prepares an injection at a sports field in Jerusalem
Israel announced yesterday that it will succeed in locking measures from Sunday morning but will keep the international airport closed until February 20 as things fall.
‘The most important thing is that all Israeli men and women over the age of 50 get the vaccine,’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address.
‘Get vaccinated. The vaccines work. ‘
Israel has recorded a daily average of 6,500 new Covid-19 cases, down from about 8,000 in mid-January, official figures show.
Tight locking across the country was extended four times to counteract the level of infection, but January was the deadliest month with more than 1,000 Covid deaths.
Israel has recorded more than 675,000 cases of Covid-19, including more than 5,000 deaths.
Under the discount, Israelis will no longer be restricted to within 500 yards of their homes, and services such as hairdressing and beauty will be allowed to operate, and nature reserves and national parks will reopen.
Hotels are closed and restaurants will be allowed to serve takeaways only.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, where international flights were canceled from Jan. 24, will remain closed until Feb. 20, the government said.
Land boundaries to be closed.
As of December, more than 3.3 million out of Israel’s nine-million population have received the first injection of coronavirus vaccines.