A landmark study involving over 1.2 million people in Israel demonstrates that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective against symptomatic cases. These real-world results align closely with the vaccine's impressive clinical trial data.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine this Wednesday, the study by Pfizer (U.S.) and BioNTech (Germany) confirms 94% efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19. This mirrors their November announcement of 95% effectiveness from phase 3 trials. "The fact that vaccines have worked so well in the real world... really suggests that if the nations of the world can muster the will, we now have the means to end COVID-19 forever," said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Texas A&M University not involved in the research.
Conducted by Clalit Health Services in Israel from December 20, 2020, to February 1, 2021, the study included approximately 1.2 million people, split evenly between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Each vaccinated participant was matched with an unvaccinated control based on age, sex, comorbidities, and residence.
Analysis showed 57% effectiveness against symptomatic infections 14-20 days after the first dose, rising to 94% seven days after the second dose. Efficacy remained consistent across age groups, with slightly lower rates among those with comorbidities.
These findings are particularly notable as the Alpha variant was circulating in Israel. The country, with 4.25 million first doses administered, targeted full vaccination of those over 16 by late March.
In France, GPs and occupational health services began administering the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine to adults aged 50-64 with comorbidities on February 25.
