Israel: Pfizer Third Dose to Olders Found Effective in Delta Variant- A Study Suggested

A massive study published on Wednesday in Israel found that older people who receive a booster shot of Pfizer vaccine are less likely to get severely infected from Coronavirus. 

Earlier studies suggested that the third shot of the Pfizer vaccine (Booster Shot) will provide added protection against the new variant of Coronavirus – Delta. According to the preliminary analysis of data from Maccabi Healthcare Services, the people who received the supplement dose had a 48% to 68% lower risk of severe infection, after a week to 13 days of vaccination, compared to those who got the standard dose (Two doses). The protection increased with the time, 70% to 84% after the 20 days of getting a third shot. 

Israel started offering booster shots to the older population on July 30, and the group of researchers analyzed national healthcare records through the month of August. 

Almost 1.1 million people are 60 or above in Israel. The study was concluded on thousands of infected people, from which hundreds of cases were of severe illness, providing some of the most compelling evidence that Pfizer booster shots are really effective. 

The study concluded that the older population, after getting the booster shots, was 11 times less likely to get infected and 19.5 times less likely to get severely ill compared to those who received standard two doses only. 

This study tends to be influential, it was published just two days before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convenes an independent expert panel to discuss Pfizer’s application to give booster shots in the US. Israeli health officials are scheduled to present reports from the booster shots campaign at the Friday meeting. 

Overall, the Pfizer thirds dose (Booster shots) dramatically reduces the risk of infection or severe illness in older people. Still, an expert urged caution when administering the third dose, saying that the study has major limitations. 

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