Pfizer vaccine efficiency reduction reported

Israel reported on Monday a decline in Pfizer vaccine efficiency in preventing infections and symptoms, but said the vaccine remains highly efficient in preventing serious cases.

The decline in efficiency was reported at the time of the spread of variant Delta and at the time when Israeli authorities have removed restrictive measures about social distance, Reuters writes.

Israel's Ministry of Health said that the efficiency of Pfizer's vaccine for preventing infections and symptoms has dropped to 65 percent from June 6th, while its efficiency in preventing respiratory and serious corruption cases is 93 percent.

This ministry did not show how much the previous level of efficiency in percentages was and did not reveal any other details. However, according to a report released in May, it was said that two doses of Pfizer vaccine offer over 95 percent protection against infection, hospitalisation and serious illness.

A Pfizer company spokesman refused to comment on the data from Israel, but cited other research, which has shown that antibodies that are urged to be created by vaccines are still capable of neutralising all tested variants, including the Delta version, though with reduced powers.

Otherwise, about 60 percent of the Israeli population of 9.3 million have already received at least the first dose of Pfizer's vaccine. The mass vaccine affected the decline in daily numbers of more than 10,000 in January, in single digits in June.