Don’t be misled by Israel doubts about vaccine effectiveness

THERE was more worry last week about the Government’s decision to give the second dose of the Covid vaccine after 12 weeks – nine weeks more than originally planned.

In trials, the two vaccines now in use in the UK were given as two doses, three weeks apart.

But we aren’t doing this. After the first jab, people are well protected from Covid, and delaying the second dose to three months gives more people the chance to get their first jab.

And I wholeheartedly support this move.

However, Israeli scientists have claimed that one dose of the Pfizer jab gives just 33 per cent protection, rather than the 89 per cent stated by British health chiefs.

First, let me say that we are not binning the second dose altogether – it is only a couple of months away.

And second, the Israeli data is to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Yes, people tested positive for the virus within two weeks of having one jab. But in clinical trials it took three weeks (21 days) for the immune system to mount a response to the vaccine and offer protection. And, at this stage, it’s believed to be up to 90 per cent effective. The second dose boosts immunity to 95 per cent.

In the Israeli data, even at two weeks there was a 33 per cent protection – and experts have admitted this is, in fact, quite impressive. However, the data does not tell us how ill the people who did test positive were. That really is crucial.

I’d say, right now, the weight of evidence is that one jab as soon as possible, then a booster three months later, is the best option for us, individually, but also for Britain as a whole.