Corona vaccine is effective in preventing infection and disease in adolescents by more than 90% and is effective against the Delta variant, according to a study conducted among about 200,000 12- to 18-year-old Clalit policyholders who were vaccinated.
This is the largest and most comprehensive study done on the subject of adolescent vaccination.
It is shared by Clalit and Harvard University and published in the leading medical journal New England Journal of Medicine.
The study showed that the vaccine showed 90% efficacy in preventing infection among adolescents and 93% efficacy in preventing disease with symptoms, starting one week after receiving the second dose.
Due to the small number of cases of adolescents infected with corona and hospitalized in a serious condition, it was not possible to analyze the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing serious illness.
A previous study by Clalit, after the start of the adult vaccination campaign (when the dominant strain was an alpha strain), showed similar data - of reducing the morbidity rate in Corona by 94%.
The research team analyzed Clalit data using advanced methods to test the effectiveness of the first and second doses of Pfizer vaccine against the Delta strain among adolescents aged 12-18 against the Delta strain.
The study included vaccinators between June 8 and September 14, 2021, during the fourth wave, most recently.
Prof. Ran Blitzer.
"Conclusion for parents who are undecided about vaccinating their adolescent children" // Photo: Yuval Chen,
Prof. Ran Blitzer, Head of Clalit's Innovation Division: "The results of the study unequivocally show that the vaccine is most effective in reducing infection with the Delta strain and preventing symptomatic disease one week after receiving two doses.
Prof. Ben Rice, director of the Predictive Medicine Group at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School: "The results provide well-founded scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett yesterday held a consultation on the new Delta variant AY4.2 (the British variant) with professionals and medical professionals.
