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New data from Israel and the UK painted a confusing and contradictory picture on Thursday as to the effectiveness of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in fighting the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
New statistics from the Health Ministry indicated that, on average, the Pfizer vaccine – the vaccine given to almost all Israelis – is now only 39% effective against infection, while only being 41% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID. Previously, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was over 90% effective against infection.
Meanwhile, a new British study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the same vaccine was 88% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID – more than double the rate found in Israeli data.
Research from Israel agreed, at least, that the vaccine was very effective in preventing serious illness, with an effectiveness of 91.4%.
Some analysts have warned that vaccine efficacy figures are subject to major inaccuracies due to a range of factors, including questions about the existence of accurate data on infection levels among the unvaccinated. which is vital for such statistics.
Israeli statistics also seemed to paint a picture of the weakening protection over the months after vaccination, due to weakening immunity. People vaccinated in January would have only 16% protection against infection now, while those vaccinated in April, the effectiveness was 75%.
Doctors note that these numbers may not only reflect the time since vaccination, but also a bias that those who vaccinated early were often people with health problems and more prone to infection, such as the elderly.
Reacting to the Israeli figures on Thursday, epidemiologist Nadav Davidovich, professor at Ben-Gurion University and head of the Israeli Doctors’ Union, told The Times of Israel: “What we are seeing is that the vaccine is less effective for prevent transmission, but it’s easy to forget that it’s still very effective in preventing hospitalizations and severe cases.
Illustration: A staff member at Soroka Medical Center works in the coronavirus ward, September 15, 2020 (Yossi Zeliger / Flash90)
Davidovitch added: “It’s still excellent, very good at preventing severe cases and death, but less at preventing transmission. And that’s why we can’t just rely on vaccinations, but we also need Green Passes, tests, masks, etc.
Davidovitch stressed that all figures should be treated as preliminary and with limited relevance given the relatively low number of positive patients at the moment. “It is early enough to comment, as the number of people with HIV is still quite low,” he said.
He spoke after ministers approved the reinstatement of the Green Pass, limiting attendance at major events to those who are vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19, or have a valid negative test result.
The renewed restrictions will apply to indoor and outdoor events with more than 100 participants, starting July 29. The requirement to show proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test from the past 72 hours will only apply to persons over 12 years of age. age, there will be no restriction.
The move was approved by the so-called coronavirus cabinet, a high-level ministerial forum tasked with leading the government’s response to the pandemic. It has yet to be ratified by the government and is expected to be voted on Sunday during the weekly cabinet meeting.
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