The data additionally show a 94% prevention against asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, at a time when the country's dominant strain was the B.1.1.7 variant.
Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine BNT162b2 has been associated with 97% efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, severe disease, and death among real-world patients in Israel.
The new findings, presented in collaboration with the Israel Ministry of Health (MoH), show the particular efficacy of the widely authorized two-dose mRNA vaccine 14 days after the second dose.
What’s more, the continued evidence of the vaccine in a real-world population—one which, in Israel, is among the most vaccinated national populations per capita globally—even in the face of more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants including B.1.1.7, support hope for an eventual mitigation of the pandemic.
The Pfizer and MoH investigators reported analyses derived from de-identified aggregate surveillance data collected from the Israel population from January 17 – March 6 of this year. In the observed time period, BNT162b2 was the lone authorized vaccine in the country, and B.1.1.7 was already the dominant strain.
The surveillance data, to be submitted to a peer-reviewed medical journal for publication, is part of a collaborative agreement between the pharmaceutical company and the national health authority to monitor real-world outcomes associated with the vaccine.
Investigators observed all outcomes of COVID-19 prevalence and severity among vaccinated persons in Israel after they had reached 2 weeks post-final dose.
They found BNT162b2 was 97% effective against symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalizations, severe and critical disease, and deaths. Additionally, it was associated with 94% effectiveness versus asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Professor Yeheskel Levy, Israel MoH director, credited the country’s strong health system, as well as “unprecedented societal mobilization and awareness” to achieve a vaccine rollout plan that’s resulted in 45% of the population already being fully vaccinated form COVID-19.
“Incidence rates in the fully vaccinated population have massively dropped compared to the unvaccinated population, showing a marked decline in hospitalized cases due to COVID-19,” Levy said in a statement. “This clearly demonstrates the power of the COVID-19 vaccine to fight this virus and encourages us to continue even more intensively with our vaccination campaign.”
Stay ahead of emerging infectious disease threats with expert insights and breaking research. Subscribe now to get updates delivered straight to your inbox.