Israel's COVID-19 vaccine rollout being monitored closely in Montreal - Montreal Gazette

Article content

News out of Israel that the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine might not be as effective against COVID-19 as initially hoped has caused ripples of concern among Montreal’s medical community.

On Monday, Israel’s coronavirus czar, Nachman Ash, reportedly said the first dose of the vaccine appeared “less effective than we had thought.” In remarks reported by Army Radio, Ash added that the protective effect of the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was “lower than Pfizer presented.”

Since December, Israel has administered the first shot to two million citizens, or nearly 25 per cent of its population. In addition, 400,000 residents have received the second dose. On Monday, Israel posted a record 10,000 COVID-19 cases and the country is extending its lockdown until the end of January.

Quebec and other jurisdictions around the world have been delaying giving the second Pfizer shot, amid short supplies, after the U.K.’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization concluded that the efficacy of the vaccine was 89 per cent, starting 14 days after the first dose.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vbW9udHJlYWxnYXpldHRlLmNvbS9uZXdzL2xvY2FsLW5ld3MvaXNyYWVscy1jb3ZpZC0xOS12YWNjaW5lLXJvbGxvdXQtYmVpbmctbW9uaXRvcmVkLWNsb3NlbHktaW4tbW9udHJlYWzSAZ4BaHR0cHM6Ly9tb250cmVhbGdhemV0dGUuY29tL25ld3MvbG9jYWwtbmV3cy9pc3JhZWxzLWNvdmlkLTE5LXZhY2NpbmUtcm9sbG91dC1iZWluZy1tb25pdG9yZWQtY2xvc2VseS1pbi1tb250cmVhbC93Y20vYWFhMWRmN2UtMjhkYS00N2ExLWFiYjgtNGE1YjBmNDE4Yzg2L2FtcC8?oc=5

2021-01-21 04:18:45Z
52781310327659