Exclusive: Oxford study indicates AstraZeneca effective against Brazil variant, source says
Rodrigo Viga Gaier
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Preliminary data from a study conducted at the University of Oxford indicates that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca PLC is effective against the P1, or Brazilian, variant, a source with knowledge of the study told Reuters on Friday.
The data indicates that the vaccine will not need to be modified in order to protect against the variant, which is believed to have originated in the Amazonian city of Manaus, said the source, who requested anonymity as the results have not yet been made public.
Vaccine prevents 98.9% of COVID deaths, Israel’s Health Ministry data shows
Officials hail ‘dramatically’ effective Pfizer shots; two weeks after second dose, vaccine also 99.2% protective against serious illness, reduces chance of hospitalization by 98.9%
A health worker of the Maccabi Healthcare Services administers a dose of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to a woman inside a van in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, on February 16, 2021. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)
Israel’s Health Ministry said Saturday that coronavirus vaccines were “dramatically” effective and the latest data shows the shots were 98.9% effective at preventing death caused by COVID-19.
“The vaccine dramatically reduces serious illness and death and you can see this influence in our morbidity statistics,” said Health Ministry Director-General Chezy Levy.
According to the data released by the ministry, the vaccine is also 99.2% protective against serious illness, reduces morbidity by 95.8% and decreases the chance of hospitalization by 98.9%.
The data represents Israelis who have received both doses of the vaccine, 14 days after their second dose, versus people who have not received any inoculation. The data is representative of findings up to February 13, the Health Ministry said.
Israelis walk near a COVID-19 mobile vaccine station on the beach in Tel Aviv, February 20, 2021. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
So far, 4,250,643 have received at least one dose, while 2,881,825 have received both shots out of the country’s population of about 9 million. Around 3 million Israelis are not currently eligible to be vaccinated, including those younger than 16 and people who have recovered from COVID-19, among others.
While the Health Ministry figures did not specify, Israel has been vaccinating almost exclusively with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Family members wearing safety gear visit a relative at the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on February 3, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
The nationwide data is even more optimistic than the results of studies released in recent days by Israel’s HMOs.
A massive study by Israel’s largest health provider released Sunday indicated that the vaccine was 94 percent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, and 92% effective in averting serious cases of the disease.
The Health Ministry findings also follow results nine days ago by the Maccabi HMO, which reportedzero deaths among 523,000 people a week or more after their second vaccination shot.
“Thanks to Israel’s strong health system that has allowed us to vaccinate an unprecedented wide percentage of the population, and our epidemiological tracking facilities, we are the first country in the world that can show the effect of the vaccine in the real clinical world,” said Levy.
Health Ministry Director-General Chezy Levy during the announcement of the “Green Pass” certification on February 18, 2021 (Health Ministry)
“Our aim is to continue to vaccinate everybody 16 and older, and when the time comes, those under 16 also, to reach the widest possible coverage of the population that will allow us to return to normal life, which we all long for,” he said.
The vaccine has not yet been approved for children under 16, although Israel has vaccinated dozens who suffer specific COVID-19 risk factors. No serious side effects were reported.
A Tuesday poll found that despite a sharp increase in infections among children, only 41 percent of Israeli parents said they intend to vaccinate their kids once inoculations become available for those under 16. The poll, conducted by the Rushinek research institute, found that 29% of parents don’t plan on vaccinating their 6- to 15-year-olds, 30% are unsure, and 41% plan to do so, Channel 13 reported.
The data release comes as Israel was set to roll back some of the major restrictions imposed in late December as part of a third lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, with stores, gyms, hotels and other venues allowed to reopen on Sunday morning.
Street-front shops, malls, markets, museums, and libraries will be open to all Israelis. But only those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 will be able to use gyms, enter sporting and culture events, hotels, and swimming pools.
People wearing face masks take cover from the rain as they shop for groceries at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, on February 19, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
The Health Ministry on Thursday launched the long-awaited “Green Pass” certificate which will enable those vaccinated or recovered from the coronavirus to take part in various activities.
To be allowed to open Sunday, relevant businesses must scan people for the pass and only accept those carrying it.
The Health Ministry said Friday there were 49,867 active virus cases, including over 4,000 infections diagnosed on Thursday, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 743,814. The test positivity rate on Thursday was 6.2%.
There were 858 serious cases, including 295 people on ventilators. The death toll stood at 5,521.
Officials hail 'dramatically' effective Pfizer shots; two weeks after second dose, vaccine also 99.2% protective against serious illness, reduces chance of hospitalization by 98.9%
Officials hail 'dramatically' effective Pfizer shots; two weeks after second dose, vaccine also 99.2% protective against serious illness, reduces chance of hospitalization by 98.9%
An Israeli receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at a Leumit vaccination center in Tel Aviv, March 8, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
Data released by the Health Ministry Monday provided a further indication of the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine in Israel: Out of those who were tested for the coronavirus at least a week after their second shot, less than 1 percent tested positive, and less than 0.2% developed COVID-19 symptoms.
The data shows that out of 3,387,340 vaccinated people who had had more than a week pass after receiving their second vaccine dose, only 4,711 were found to be positive for the virus and of those, only 907 developed symptoms, including fever or respiratory problems.
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Israel has almost exclusively been using the two-shot COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. On Sunday the Health Ministry released data showing that less than 3% of all seriously ill COVID-19 patients in Israel have been fully vaccinated.
Of the 6,095 coronavirus patients hospitalized in serious or critical condition since the start of Israel’s vaccination campaign, only 175, or 2.87 percent, had received the second vaccination dose, the figures show.
At the same time, 4,589 patients, or 75% of those in serious or critical condition, had not received a first dose.
Israel vaccinated its five millionth citizen against the coronavirus with a first shot on Monday. Of the five million who have now had their first vaccine dose, 3,789,118 have also had the second, according to Health Ministry figures.
Customers dining at a restaurant in Tel Aviv, as Israel further eases a third national COVID-19 lockdown, on March 7, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak early last year, 803,260 people in Israel have been diagnosed with the virus. There are currently 37,698 active cases in the country.
Much of the economy reopened Sunday as a national lockdown was further rolled back, including restaurants, cafes, school grades 7-10 in low- to medium-infection areas, event venues, attractions and hotels. Higher education institutions and religious seminaries were opened to vaccinated or recovered people and rules on gatherings and worship were relaxed.
The cabinet also decided to ease restrictions on international travel and sidelined a highly controversial committee that was deciding who could enter the country while the airport remained largely shuttered.
New coronavirus deaths and infections in Israel have continued to decline from highs in January, and the number of seriously ill COVID-19 patients has dropped to its lowest point since last year.
Still, among the optimism and reopening, health officials have been warning of a possible fourth lockdown, as the basic reproduction number in Israel rose above 1, indicating an expansion of the pandemic.
“We are concerned about the increase in infection in the coming days,” coronavirus czar Nachman Ash told 103FM Radio on Friday, adding that “if we don’t act responsibly, and if [citizens] don’t follow the guidelines, the possibility of a fourth lockdown before the election exists.”
Government officials, including Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, said there would not be a new lockdown before the March 23 election, with Edelstein adding: “With proper conduct [by the public], we will be able to avoid more lockdowns. I really do ask everyone to help us with this.”
Of the 6,095 coronavirus patients hospitalized in serious or critical condition since the start of Israel’s vaccination campaign, only 175, or 2.87 percent, had received the second vaccination dose,
