We hear the term "coronavirus mutation" more and more often lately, and it makes one wonder how it affects the rate of infection and the effectiveness of the vaccines.
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Viruses change their genetic material as a way to "deal" with the body's immune response, both natural and the one obtained after vaccination. In case of the coronavirus, these changes are called mutations.
Some mutations kill the virus, and some enhance its ability to cause disease and evade the immune response. More than 2,000 mutations of the coronavirus have been identified so far.
The British strain of the coronavirus contains 17 genetic changes which give the mutation a 70% higher infection capability. This is the reason behind England's spike in the infection rate, and it most likely also the reason why cases have skyrocketed in Israel too.
Nonetheless the British strain does not cause a more severe coronavirus disease, and both Pfizer and Moderna have found that their vaccines are effective against the British mutation.
As for the South African strain, the assumption is that these vaccines provide at least a partial protection against it, but more research is needed to attest to their effectiveness.
The great advantage of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is their ability to speedily adapt to any mutation or genetic change and create an immunization that leads to an optimal immune response.
Israel's vaccination campaign continues to break world records. Within the first three weeks of the operation, more than 20% of the entire population received the first dose of the inoculation. The rate of vaccination among Israelis over the age of 60 is a whopping 73%.
Within four weeks after the vaccination, it reaches a protection rate of 95%. The five percent who will get infected, will only experience mild symptoms. Preliminary data from the Sheba Medical Center and HMOs shows that just two weeks after receiving the first of two doses of the vaccine, the number of infected decreased by 60%. Within three one can surely expect to see a significant decrease in the number of patients in critical condition.
In the meantime, we must do our very best to follow the lockdown rules, in hopes that this will be Israel's last lockdown. Now, even more than ever, we must do everything in our power to prevent the increase in the number of patients in critical condition and on ventilators. It impairs the hospital's ability to provide excellent care to coronavirus and other patients.
There's reasons for optimism: the Israeli government has increased its efforts and signed an agreement with Pfizer to receive additional vaccines which will make it possible to vaccinate the entire population.
Israel's impressive technological abilities that collects information and monitors the vaccines, while protecting the identity of the recipients, convinced Pfizer that it should provide vaccines to Israel, the first country in the world to vaccinate its entire population
Thanks to these capabilities, Israel will be able to pay it forward by sharing its experience and knowledge of the vaccination campaign with the world.
Thanks to the public health system, the health funds and the hospitals, the technological and logistical capabilities, and most importantly - the mobilization and dedication of the medical staff - the task of vaccinating the entire population is possible. At the same time, I believe that Israel will lead the world back to normal. Today, we are in the last miles of the marathon.
Thanks to the public health system, the HMOs and hospitals, the technological and logistical capabilities, and most importantly - the dedication of the medical staff – vaccinating the entire population is more than possible.
I believe Israel will lead the world back to normal. We are so close to the finish line.
May we celebrate Passover with our families and friends this year, and may we remember that we can overcome any virus if we stand together.
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