Israel’s health ministry said Monday the effectiveness of the COVID-19 shot developed by BioNTech SE
BNTX,
-5.42%
and Pfizer Inc.
PFE,
-1.36%
is now thought to be 64% at preventing symptomatic infections in that country. The vaccine had an efficacy rate of about 95% in clinical trials back in 2020; however, the emergence of the more transmissible delta variant in Israel has weakened the overall effectiveness of the shot, according to a statement posted on Twitter. The ministry said the vaccine remains much more effective at preventing hospitalizations and death, with an estimated effectiveness rate of 93%. Health researchers are paying close attention to vaccine performance in Israel. The country has vaccinated 57% of its residents, according to Johns Hopkins University data, and it has primarily used the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.
