In Israel, the rate of infection has already dropped by a third after vaccination

Against COVID Two weeks after the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the spread of coronavirus in Israel was reduced by a third in the entire age group of vaccinees.

The largest health insurance fund in Israel, the Klalit An analysis of data from a significant number of 200,000 patients over the age of 60 showed that two weeks after the first dose, there were one-third fewer new infections among the newly infected, and not just among vaccinees.

Israeli research shows that the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer not only protects vaccinees from COVID-19 infection, but also helps prevent people who have already been vaccinated from passing the disease on to others.

The main question of the research was whether the vaccine only prevents the vaccine from becoming ill or whether the vaccine also slows down the transmission of the virus. Data from identified infected individuals showed that vaccination had no effect on overall infection rates for 5-12 days. among the observed 200,000 over the age of 60, but by day 13 their infection had decreased slightly, and by day 14 their infection had decreased by a third projected to the whole age group. This is the first evidence that the Pfizer vaccine not only prevents the vaccinated person from becoming infected, but also prevents the exposed person from passing the virus on to others.

Photo: MTI

Ran Balicer Professor, head of Klalit’s research department, said the results, although only preliminary, were “very encouraging”.

“It is important to keep in mind that these observations do not show that vaccination provides complete protection against the disease.He warned, however, against further caution. – “Therefore, vaccinees should continue to be careful and wear a face mask, and must follow public health instructions to protect those around themHe added.

Balicer told ynet that experts hope it will be demonstrated in the coming weeks whether vaccination will also help reduce severe COVID cases and hospitalization of infected people. Vaccination should be repeated after three weeks according to the instructions of the pharmaceutical company, and only one week after the administration of the second dose of the vaccine, about 95 percent protection for vaccinees is promised.

Israel was the world leader in coronavirus vaccination relative to the proportion of the population, and on December 20, 2020, it began vaccinating health care professionals and those at 60 years of age at particular risk. To date, the first of two doses of the vaccine has been given to almost 2 million people, and the second dose has already been started.