The Ministry of Health updated tonight (Sunday) that the fourth vaccine dose for people aged 60 and over protects 3 times more than a serious illness and twice as much from infection, compared to veteran vaccines in three doses. This was stated in the initial analysis performed by a team of researchers from the Ministry of Health, the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Technion, the Hebrew University, and the Gartner Institute at Sheba Medical Center.
In early January, in light of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, a fourth dose of vaccine began to be given to the population aged 60 and over and to at-risk populations and medical staff.
A preliminary data analysis that examined the usefulness of the fourth dose, found that among those aged 60 and over, the fourth dose increases the protection against infection by about 2 times compared to veteran third-dose vaccines.
In addition, the fourth dose provides 3 times or more protection against a serious illness compared to the vaccinated third dose.
Comparison of protection was made with respect to third-dose vaccinated individuals who had passed 4 months or more from the date of their previous vaccination.
The surgery is based on data from about 400,000 fourth-dose vaccines, and about 600,000 third-dose vaccinated over the age of 60. The surgery was performed using pausing regression (statistical method) and correction for risk factors and exposure, similar to previous research team articles published in the leading New England medical journal Journal of Medicine.
Preliminary results will be updated over time with additional follow-up data.
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