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A new serological study conducted at an Israeli hospital found that 98% of hospital workers who received the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine developed a high level of antibodies to fight the virus.
Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, outside Tel Aviv, published the results of the study on its website on Monday.
The study of 102 samples, taken a week after Israel began administering the second dose – when the vaccine should reach its peak effectiveness – showed that most of those vaccinated had higher antibody counts than those who received the vaccine. have recovered from COVID-19.
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The hospital said that a week after receiving the final dose, the antibodies soared to a level six to 20 times higher than after the first stroke.
Two employees developed only low levels of antibodies, the tests showed, one of which was known to have a weakened immune system.
Dr Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit in Sheba, said early results indicated that vaccinated people were unlikely to be carriers or infectious – a question scientists did not not yet determined – because antibody levels were high enough to suppress all virus particles.
“It means the vaccine is working wonderfully,” Regev-Yochay said.
The results “are in line with Pfizer’s testing and even exceed expectations. [results]. I expect the tests of the rest of the participating employees to be similar, ”she said. “There is certainly cause for optimism.”
A medical worker prepares an injection of COVID-19 vaccine, at a vaccination center in Jerusalem, January 13, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
Pfizer’s vaccine, developed with German partner BioNTech, has received emergency approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Union regulatory agency and is believed to offer up to 95% protection against COVID-19. But much remains unknown, including its long-term protection.
Israel leads the world on a per capita basis in immunizations, even as the country remains stuck to curb the spike in infections.
As of Monday morning, 2,116,291 citizens received Pfizer’s first vaccine, while 309,450 received both doses, according to figures from the Department of Health. An increase from the previous days, more than 150,000 people received an injection on Sunday.
The government struck a deal with Pfizer promising to share vast amounts of medical data on Israel’s vaccination campaign in exchange for more doses of the vaccine.
Supporters say the deal could allow Israel to become the first country to immunize most of its population, while providing valuable research that could help the rest of the world.
But critics say the deal raises major ethical concerns, including possible breaches of privacy and a deepening of the global divide that allows rich countries to stockpile vaccines, as poorer populations have to wait longer. to be vaccinated.
The health ministry said on Monday that the percentage of positive coronavirus tests confirmed the day before was 9.1%, the highest level in more than two months, ahead of a planned extension of the national lockdown, which was due to expire on Thursday.
Morning test results returned on Monday showed the positive rate rose further to 9.4%. The last time the positive test rate was this high was on October 6, when it hit just over 10%.
There are 80,620 cases of the active virus in Israel and 552,415 infections since the start of the pandemic. More than 4,000 Israelis have died from COVID-19, including 1,000 in the last month alone.
Ministers are said to suspect a ban on all non-urgent travel from Israel and stricter quarantine rules for returning travelers.
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