Israeli study shows Pfizer shot 94% effective

JERUSALEM – Israel’s largest healthcare provider yesterday said a study of more than half a million fully vaccinated Israelis indicated that the Pfizer-BioNTech jab gave 94% protection against Covid-19.

Clalit Health Services said in a groundbreaking project, its researchers tested 600,000 subjects who have received the recommended two doses of the United States-German vaccine and the same number of people who have not been vaccinated.

“There was a 94% reduction in the rate of symptomatic infection, and a 92% decrease in the rate of serious illness, compared with 600,000 similar (subjects) who were not vaccinated,” Clalit said in a Hebrew-language statement.

“Vaccine efficacy is maintained in all age groups, including those aged 70 and above.”

Israel’s mass vaccination campaign has seen 3.8 million people receive a first dose, while 2.4 million have also received a second shot.

The country of nine million people, which is currently easing restrictions imposed during its third nationwide lockdown, is aiming to vaccinate everyone over the age of 16 by the end of March.

“The publication of preliminary results at this stage is intended to emphasise to the unvaccinated population that the vaccine is highly effective and prevents serious morbidity,” Clalit said.

It added that the study covers people who have received the second shot at least seven days before being tested, and will be expanded in future.

“With each additional week that passes, we will be able to make the assessment more accurate.”

It said accuracy will improve as subjects are tested after 14 days or more from the second dose.

Israel has so far relied on only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, although it holds a small stock of the vaccine developed by US biotech firm Moderna.

It secured plentiful supplies of vaccine from Pfizer after striking a data-sharing deal with the US manufacturer.

The agreement stipulates that the Jewish state, which has one of the world’s most sophisticated medical data systems, will share real-time information with Pfizer on the vaccine’s impact, including on progress towards herd immunity.

Clalit is the biggest of Israel’s four health service providers, which collectively provide healthcare to the entire population.

They are directly responsible for vaccinations and collecting data on their impact. – AFP, February 15, 2021