Israel finds that strengthening the COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduces the risk of infection

JERUSALEM, Aug 22 (Reuters) – A third dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (PFE.N) has significantly improved protection against infection and serious disease among people aged 60 and over in Israel compared to those who received two shots, according to findings. published by the Ministry of Health was shown on Sunday.

The data were presented Thursday at a meeting of a group of vaccination experts from the ministry and posted on its website on Sunday, although not all details of the study were released.

The findings were on par with separate statistics reported last week by Israeli health care provider Maccabi, one of several organizations that administers booster shots to try to curb the Delta coronavirus variant. Read more

Breaking down statistics from the Gertner Institute and the KI Institute of Israel, ministry officials said that among people aged 60 and over, protection against infection provided from 10 days after the third dose it was four times higher than the two doses.

A third time for those over 60 offered five to six times greater protection after 10 days in terms of serious illness and hospitalization.

This age group is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and Israel was the first to be inoculated when vaccine collection began in late December.

In recent weeks, the health ministry has said that immunity has decreased over time for both the elderly and young people. Most of the vaccinated people who fell seriously ill in Israel were over 60 years old and had underlying health conditions.

Israel began administering third blows to those over 60 on July 30. Thursday reduced the eligibility age for reinforcement to 40 and included pregnant women, teachers and health workers below that age. The third doses are only given to those who received their second shot at least five months ago.

The United States has announced plans to offer booster shots to all Americans, citing data showing less and less protection. Canada, France and Germany have announced reinforcement campaigns.

Fighting an outbreak of the Delta variant since June, Israel currently has one of the highest per capita infection rates in the world. About 1.5 million people out of the country’s 9.3 million population have taken a third hit.

Reports by Jeffrey Heller and Maayan Lubell; Edited by Hugh Lawson

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