Along with the flu vaccination campaign like every year, last week all HMOs started vaccinating their patients with a new corona vaccine, which protects against two strains of the virus - the original strain ("Wuhan strain") and the micron strain (
BA4 and
BA5).
The vaccine is intended only for those aged 12 and over who have previously been vaccinated against Corona with two doses.
It is given at an interval of three months from the previous vaccine dose or from recovery.
Prof. Zarka, photo: Gideon Markovich
Due to the low morbidity, the infection rate on the holidays dropped to 0.83, the number of daily confirmed cases was less than 1,000 a day this past week, and 289 people are hospitalized in the hospitals - about 80 of them seriously ill.
We asked the head of the corona virus, Prof. Salman Zarka, who is also the director of the Ziv Hospital in Safed and a public health expert, to put the information in order and explain about the new vaccine and who he recommends to get vaccinated.
Who is the vaccine recommended for?
"The vaccine is recommended for patients with chronic diseases and significant lung diseases, immunosuppressed people, those suffering from obesity and hematological diseases, and health system workers, teaching workers, residents of institutions for the elderly and their caregivers, residents of welfare institutions, psychiatric inpatients, prisoners, and more.
"It's important to clarify: we recommend in the clearest and sharpest way to everyone at risk - to get vaccinated. Even those who don't belong to these groups can get vaccinated, and it definitely lowers the risk. I don't want to call on everyone to get vaccinated. If we protect the risk population - we will be punished."
Why not recommend the entire population to be vaccinated, as in the past?
"Currently, in the Omicron variant, severe morbidity is focused on the risk populations - people with severe chronic diseases, lungs, heart and cancer, over the age of 65 or 70. Our goal is to prevent severe morbidity and hospitalization in intensive care. We want to save lives. A healthy 30-year-old person is not The target population, because even if he gets sick - he probably won't get into trouble. That's why I tell him: if you want to get vaccinated, the health insurance funds will give it to you. We bought vaccines for everyone."
What is the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of the vaccine?
"In a clinical trial, we see that the vaccine causes an increase in antibodies. Since there is not enough data from 'real life', we cannot say in terms of percentages how effective it is in preventing a serious disease. The effectiveness of the vaccine decreased during the Omicron period, and in the BA4/5 strains.
According to various studies, the protection of the vaccine in preventing a serious disease is 70-80 percent and is lower than with the previous vaccine.
The effectiveness in preventing infection is 30-40 percent.
There is no single official and declared figure, and what is certain is that the protection of the vaccine in preventing infection has eroded - but the prevention of the severe disease has been relatively preserved.
With the new vaccine, the main expectation is to restore protection against severe disease to around 90%.
You also have to wait until there is a wave of morbidity to see effectiveness."
The vaccine is suitable for ages 12 and older. Is it expected to be approved soon for all ages?
"It is not currently expected that the vaccine will be approved for younger people. Pfizer's vaccine is intended for ages 12 and older, and Moderna's for ages 18 and older. More than 90% of the seriously ill patients in the Umicron wave are 60 years old or older, so the companies focus on the older population."
Should those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer vaccines so far receive a Moderna booster? Is it effective?
"There are currently two million Pfizer vaccines in Israel. I recommend getting vaccinated with what is available. There is no obstacle to those who have been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine to be vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, or vice versa. I do not know how to recommend to those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer to switch to Moderna. There is not enough information."
What if I was sick less than three months ago, but still got vaccinated?
"According to the guidelines, one must wait three months after recovery to receive an adapted vaccine. We think that the person is more protected in the period of three months after the illness, after which the protection from the previous vaccine or from the disease is getting weaker. If you got sick a month ago, there is no need to get vaccinated now. But who who doesn't know if he's sick, there's still no danger in receiving a vaccine."
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