Covid-19 vaccine ‘very effective’ against delta variant, Pfizer says
But an Israeli official says the country lacks enough data to provide insight into effectiveness against the delta variant
24 June 2021 - 14:01
byMaayan Lubell
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Jerusalem — The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is highly effective against the delta variant of Covid-19, a Pfizer official in Israel said on Thursday.
First identified in India, delta is becoming the globally dominant version of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The data we have today, accumulating from research we are conducting at the lab and including data from those places where the Indian variant, delta, has replaced the British variant as the common variant, point to our vaccine being very effective, around 90%, in preventing the coronavirus disease, Covid-19,” Alon Rappaport, Pfizer's medical director in Israel, told local broadcaster Army Radio.
A spokesperson for Pfizer did not immediately respond to a request for comment when asked to provide further details.
Israel, with one of the world’s most advanced vaccination campaigns largely based on the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, still lacks enough data to provide insight into vaccine effectiveness against the delta variant, said Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health at Israel’s health ministry.
“We are collecting the data now. We are only now seeing the first cases of the delta variant in Israel — about 200 of those — so we will know more soon,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
An analysis by Public Health England (PHE), where the delta variant is more widespread, found that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines provide more than 90% protection against hospitalisation from the delta variant.
In Israel, more than half the 9.3-million population has received both Pfizer shots and a steep drop in cases has prompted most economic restrictions to be lifted.
But confirmed cases have risen in the past few days and health authorities have urged parents to vaccinate their 12-to 15-year-olds, who were made eligible earlier in June.
Alroy-Preis said about 65% of Israel’s population was protected against Covid-19, either by vaccination or by recovering from the disease, a figure she said was still far from providing “herd immunity.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Covid-19 vaccine ‘very effective’ against delta variant, Pfizer says
But an Israeli official says the country lacks enough data to provide insight into effectiveness against the delta variant
Jerusalem — The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is highly effective against the delta variant of Covid-19, a Pfizer official in Israel said on Thursday.
First identified in India, delta is becoming the globally dominant version of the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The data we have today, accumulating from research we are conducting at the lab and including data from those places where the Indian variant, delta, has replaced the British variant as the common variant, point to our vaccine being very effective, around 90%, in preventing the coronavirus disease, Covid-19,” Alon Rappaport, Pfizer's medical director in Israel, told local broadcaster Army Radio.
A spokesperson for Pfizer did not immediately respond to a request for comment when asked to provide further details.
Israel, with one of the world’s most advanced vaccination campaigns largely based on the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, still lacks enough data to provide insight into vaccine effectiveness against the delta variant, said Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health at Israel’s health ministry.
“We are collecting the data now. We are only now seeing the first cases of the delta variant in Israel — about 200 of those — so we will know more soon,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
An analysis by Public Health England (PHE), where the delta variant is more widespread, found that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines provide more than 90% protection against hospitalisation from the delta variant.
In Israel, more than half the 9.3-million population has received both Pfizer shots and a steep drop in cases has prompted most economic restrictions to be lifted.
But confirmed cases have risen in the past few days and health authorities have urged parents to vaccinate their 12-to 15-year-olds, who were made eligible earlier in June.
Alroy-Preis said about 65% of Israel’s population was protected against Covid-19, either by vaccination or by recovering from the disease, a figure she said was still far from providing “herd immunity.”
Reuters
FDA to add warning to mRNA vaccines over rare heart inflammation in young
GSK unveils £8bn boost from consumer unit spin-off
SA is getting ready to vaccinate over-50s‚ deputy health minister says
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Decision on Coronavac vaccine at advanced stage, says medicines health regulator
Education sector gears up for huge vaccination drive as jab expiry date looms
Decision on Coronavac at advanced stage, says medicines regulator
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.