Covid-19 Vaccine: Israel Study Finds Pfizer Jab Effective After Single Dose In Big 'Real World' Test

<p>In a latest result on effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccination being rolled out globally, the vaccination from Pfizer given to more than half a million people has revealed its effectiveness at fighting serious illness or death, even after one dose. According to the news agency AP, the results published on Wednesday from a mass vaccination campaign in Israel has offered a strong reassurance that the vaccine when tested widely in a general population ranging from various ages group and health conditions has shown the similar effectiveness as that of small limited testing.</p> <p><strong>What&rsquo;s the effectiveness?</strong></p> <p>In a real world test, the vaccine has found to be be 92 per cent effective at fighting the deadly diease after two shots and around 62 per cent after one shot. The result has shown estimated effectiveness of 72 per cent for preventing death after two to three weeks of taking the first shot. This rate is likely to improve as immunity builds over time. The vaccination has been effective in people over 70 years of age as well as younger people. Medical experts and scietists also agreed on its effectiveness.&nbsp; &ldquo;This is immensely reassuring ... better than I would have guessed,&rdquo; said Dr. Gregory Poland from the Mayo Clinic as per the agency.</p> <p><strong>Also Read:</strong> <a href="https://ift.tt/3qQCkiS Vaccination: People Above 60 Yrs To Be Vaccinated From March 1; Free Inoculation At Govt Centres</a></p> <p>In fact, Vanderbilt University&rsquo;s Dr. Buddy Creech also shared similar views and shared that it has revealed high effectiveness in prevention of death even after one dose.</p> <p>Experts also felt that published results may increase the chances of delaying the second shot even as the United Kingdom is already implementing one dose instead of two to people who have already suffered from the disease and France opting for the same also because of limited supplies. The vaccination developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech required two shots which are three weeks apart in most countries.</p> <p><strong>Who are behind the recent research?</strong></p> <p>The study has been spearheaded by researchers from the Clalit Research Institute and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, with Harvard University in the US. However, the report did not mention much on safety of the jabs and remained focused on effectiveness. It also revealed that no unexpected problems were seen in previous testing. The research comapred nearly 600,000 people between the age group of 16 and above in Israel&rsquo;s largest health care organization. Shots were administred to compare people receiving shots in December or January to an equal number of people of similar age, sex and health who did not receive vaccine. However, none of the candidate receving the jab had previously tested positive for the virus. As per the agency, the vaccine was estimated to be 57 per cent effective at preventing any symptoms of the diease two to three weeks after the first dose, and 94 per cent a week or more after the second dose.</p> <p>It was found 74 per cent effective after one shot and 87per cent&nbsp; after two that prevented hospitalization, and 46 per cent and 92per cent in preventing the infection. The rsults which has show reducing infections raises hope that the vaccine may curb spread of the virus, but this type of study can&rsquo;t determine if that&rsquo;s the case.</p>

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