Decline in covid infection continues. First vaccine shot proven 75pc effective

The Sheba medical center has published a groundbreaking study showing that the Pfizer vaccine is 75pc effective after the first shot, with major impact on the vaccination shortages in many countries. The study, published in Lancet, monitored the medical center’s staff of 7,214, and discovered that the first shot alone delivers an 86pc reduction in symptomatic coronavirus illness and a 75pc reduction in infection. The Health Ministry is considering administering a single vaccine jab to patients who have recovered from the virus.

On Thursday, 3,011 new cases were logged, while 858 people were still in hospital in serious condition. Deaths rose to 5,521. Altogether, 4,226 million people have received the first shots of the vaccine and 2,900 the second.