Data from Israel’s health ministry shows that the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has reduced. Unlike the earlier 94 percent efficacy, the vaccine proved to be 64 percent effective in preventing infection. The vaccine is 93 percent effective, and not 97 percent effective in preventing hospitalization. The data also shows that the delta variant is present in over 90 percent of covid cases in the country.
Delta variant: Seen in over 90 percent of Israeli patients
Reports suggest that the delta variant of coronavirus is responsible for over 90 percent of the cases in Israel. Since the lifting of lockdown in June, approximately 57 percent of the country’s population got the vaccination. However, new data from Hebrew University shows that the Pfizer vaccine is 70 percent efficient against the delta variant.
A study in The Lancet from June 2021 shows that a single dose of Pfizer vaccine gives 79 percent protection against the original covid-19 strain. However, the study proved that it was only 32 percent efficient against the delta form. In addition to that, the level of neutralizing antibodies was found to be five times lower in the delta form of the virus.
Effectiveness of Pfizer vaccine against the delta variant
The results are based on the preliminary data gathered by the health ministry from June 2021 onwards. “However, it is too early to precisely assess the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against the delta virus,” said Ran Balicer. Balicer is the chair of Israel’s national expert panel on Covid-19. Reports also say that Dervila Keane, the spokesperson for Pfizer has declined to comment on the Israeli data. Moreover, Alberta Borula, the CEO of Pfizer has said that people might need a third dose within 12 months of the second dose.
Evidence suggests that the vaccine and its efficacy will be further studied. However, it is safe to say that vaccination will continue to protect us against coronavirus and its variants.