COVID disease drops 95.8% after two Pfizer injections: Israeli Ministry of Health

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The disease risk from COVID-19 has fallen 95.8% among people who have received Pfizer’s two vaccines, Israel’s health ministry said on Saturday.

The vaccine was also 98% effective in preventing fever or respiratory problems and 98.9% effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths, the ministry said.

The results were based on data collected nationwide up to February 13 from Israelis who had received their second injection at least two weeks before. According to the Department of Health website, around 1.7 million people had received a second vaccine by January 30, making them eligible to be included.

Israel’s ambitious vaccination campaign has made it the largest real-world study of Pfizer’s vaccine, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he expected 95% of Israelis aged 50 to and more are vaccinated within the next two weeks.

Previous reports from individual health care providers have also shown positive results, prompting Israel to remove restrictions on the economy after weeks of lockdown. On Sunday, schools and many stores will be allowed to reopen.

The Department of Health has also rolled out a “Green Pass” app, linked to personal medical records, which people who have been fully vaccinated or found to be immune after recovering from COVID-19 can show to stay in hotels or attend cultural or sporting events.