
COVID-19 boosters significantly lower infection risk, study in Israel finds
pharmafile | August 23, 2021 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â Â
A study in Israel has found that a third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine significantly improved protection from infection and serious illness among people aged 60 and older compared to those who have received just two shots.
The findings, published by the Health Ministry, were presented at a meeting of a ministry panel of vaccination experts and uploaded to its website, though the full details of the study were not released.
Ministry officials said that among people aged 60 and over, the protection against infection provided from 10 days after a third dose was four times higher than after two doses.
A third jab for over 60-year-olds offered five to six times greater protection after 10 days with regard to serious illness and hospitalisation.
Over 60s are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. It has been shown that immunity diminishes over time from the vaccines and that most vaccinated people who fell severely ill in Israel were over 60 and with underlying health conditions.
Israel began giving third jabs to over 60-year-olds on July 30. The country has now dropped the age of eligibility for a booster to 40, and included pregnant women, teachers, and health care workers below that age.
The US has announced plans to offer booster shots to all Americans. The UK is considering whether to shelve its booster programme for over 50s and just offer extra shots to those most vulnerable.
Lilly Subbotin






