Israeli research shows that Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine not only protects vaccinees against COVID-19, it also helps prevent immunocompromised people from spreading the disease to others.
The question of whether the vaccine would help prevent those who received it from still being carriers was a major concern when the vaccinations were rolled out around the world.
A woman is vaccinated against the corona virus at a vaccination center in Jerusalem
(Photo: AFP)
Clinical research conducted by Israel’s largest health fund, Clalit, showed a significant drop in infections among 200,000 people aged 60 and over two weeks after the first vaccinations were given. Not all 200,000 people involved in the study had received the vaccination.
Prof. Ran Balicer, head of innovation at Clalit, says there is no visible effect on overall infection rates for 5 to 12 days after the first dose of the two-step vaccination is administered.
According to the data, there was a slight decrease in morbidity at Day 13, but at Day 14, there was a 33% decrease in the spread of the disease between those who were vaccinated and those who were not.
The Pfizer vaccine
(Photo: AFP)
Israel began vaccinating its population with the Pfizer vaccine on December 20, 2020. So far, the country has given the first of the two injections to nearly 2 million people and has already started administering the second dose.
This is the first evidence that the Pfizer vaccine not only prevents someone from contracting COVID-19 after being exposed to the coronavirus, but also prevents that exposed person from passing the virus on to others.
It is still unclear whether the first dose of vaccine reduces morbidity by more than 33% or what the rate is after the second dose, but Israeli health experts believe the data shows a significant decrease in the spread of the virus.
Prof. Ran Balicer, head of innovation at Clalit HMO
(Photo: Orel Cohen)
Prof. Balicer said that while the results are only preliminary, they are “very encouraging.”
“It is important to keep in mind that these results do not demonstrate complete protection against the disease,” he said.
“That’s why those vaccinated still need to be careful, wear a face mask and adhere to public health regulations” to protect those around them.
Balicer said experts hope in the coming weeks to prove that the vaccine also helps reduce severe cases of COVID and hospitalization for people who are infected.