Pfizer BioNTech vaccine shows 94% efficacy in Israel

The COVID-19 vaccine developed and produced by Pfizer and BioNTech has shown 94% efficacy following the vaccination of more than 590,000 people in Israel, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

According to the study at day 14 through 20 after the first dose the vaccine was 57% effective at preventing symptomatic infection, one week after the second dose the protection rose to 94%.

The risk of hospitalisation was reduced by 74% at day 14-20 and 87% one week after first dose - the likelihood of severe disease was also decreased, by 62% and 92% respectively. The estimated efficacy at preventing death from COVID-19 was 72% two weeks after the first dose.

The study did not find a decrease in the effectiveness of the vaccination for people over the age of 70.

Scientists note that the results of the study generally coincide with the data obtained during clinical trials.

The authors of the article conclude that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is effective against the new strains of the coronavirus.