In an ideal world, the government would give out free iPads after vaccinations, chocolate cake would treat COVID-19, and vaccines would put an end to the pandemic.
But in countries with high vaccination rates, the threat of COVID-19 continues to loom, meaning those who are vulnerable to the disease may not have sufficient protection once the country opens up.
This is why one country is resorting to giving those at risk a third vaccine dose.
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Israel Giving 3rd Pifzer-BioNTech Vaccine to People Who Have Compromised Immune System
Compelled by the rise in cases, Israel began giving a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to patients with compromised immune systems yesterday (12 July).
Explaining the move, the health ministry said there’s evidence that immunosuppressed patients “do not develop an adequate antibody response after two doses of the vaccines.”
The move was also triggered by the recent rise in COVID-19 infections.
Those immediately eligible for the third dose include people who’ve had heart, lung, and kidney transplants, as well as some cancer patients.
Israel’s vaccination rate is among the highest in the world, with more than 85% of its adult population fully immunised.
It even lifted all coronavirus-related restrictions, including limits on group sizes for social gatherings.
However, the highly infectious Delta variant has been spreading in Israel recently, causing a spike in cases, with several hundred new infections being recorded daily.
It may only be a slight rise, but the authorities are concerned nonetheless.
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Israel Sees Decline in Vaccine Efficacy Rate Due to Delta Variant
Earlier this month, the Israeli authorities recorded a steep drop in the efficacy rate of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing COVID-19 infections.
This is largely due to the emergence of the more infectious Delta strain.
From 2 May to 5 June, the vaccine had a 94.3% efficacy rate, according to Bloomberg.Â
But from 6 June, five days after the government relaxed all COVID-19 restrictions, to 3 July, the rate fell to 64%.
A similar decline in protection against coronavirus symptoms was also recorded.
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However, protection against hospitalisation and serious illness remained strong, as the efficacy rate only dropped from 98.2% to 93% during the same period.
The authorities are now considering reimposing coronavirus-related restrictions, and have already reinstated the mask-wearing mandate.
Other vaccine recipients, even those with healthy immune systems, may also be given a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated.
At the moment, 57% of the Israeli population have been fully vaccinated, while 63% have received at least one dose.
Featured Image: BaLL LunLa / Shutterstock.com
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