Hugely encouraging news
The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine “greatly reduces” transmission of the virus, two Israeli studies have shown.
It recently emerged that the Pfizer jab offers up to 85 per cent protection after just one dose, and now a study conducted by Israeli Health Ministry and Pfizer Inc shows that the jab, produced in Germany, reduces infection in asymptomatic cases by 89.4% as well as in symptomatic cases (93.7%.)
The study has not yet been peer reviewed and neither Pfizer nor the Israeli Health Ministry have made public comment on the findings, but the early signs are good.
A different study by Israel’s Sheba Medical Centre also found that among 7,214 hospital staff who were given their first dose, there was a reduction of 85 per cent in symptomatic Covid-19 within 15 to 28 days, and an overall reduction of infections, including asymptomatic cases detected by testing, of 75%.
Michal Linial, a professor of molecular biology and bioinformatics at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, spoke positively of the findings.
“Whether it is 75 or 90 percent reduction doesn’t matter – it is a big drop in transmission,” Linial said.
“It means that not only is the individual vaccinated protected, the inoculation also provides protection to his or her surroundings.”
News broke on Saturday night that every adult in Britain would be offered their first Covid-19 jab before the end of July this year.
BREAKING: Boris Johnson says every adult in the UK will be offered a Covid-19 vaccine before the end of July pic.twitter.com/faPCYwXStb
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) February 20, 2021
“Hitting 15 million vaccinations was a significant milestone – but there will be no let up, and I want to see the rollout go further and faster in the coming weeks,” Johnson said.
“We will now aim to offer a jab to every adult by the end of July, helping us to protect the most vulnerable sooner and take further steps to ease some of the restrictions.
“But there should be no doubt – the route out of lockdown will be cautious and phased, as we all continue to protect ourselves and those around us.”
