South African variant can 'break through' Pfizer vaccine, Israeli study says

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Got a first shot appointment on Monday. Pfizer shot. Would you go for it?

 

 

Maayan Lubell

Sat, April 10, 2021, 4:04 PM

By Maayan Lubell

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can "break through" Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found, though its prevalence in the country is low and the research has not been peer reviewed.

The study, released on Saturday, compared almost 400 people who had tested positive for COVID-19, 14 days or more after they received one or two doses of the vaccine, against the same number of unvaccinated patients with the disease. It matched age and gender, among other characteristics.

The South African variant, B.1.351, was found to make up about 1% of all the COVID-19 cases across all the people studied, according to the study by Tel Aviv University and Israel's largest healthcare provider, Clalit.

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But among patients who had received two doses of the vaccine, the variant's prevalence rate was eight times higher than those unvaccinated - 5.4% versus 0.7%.

This suggests the vaccine is less effective against the South African variant, compared with the original coronavirus and a variant first identified in Britain that has come to comprise nearly all COVID-19 cases in Israel, the researchers said.

"We found a disproportionately higher rate of the South African variant among people vaccinated with a second dose, compared to the unvaccinated group. This means that the South African variant is able, to some extent, to break through the vaccine's protection," said Tel Aviv University's Adi Stern.

The researchers cautioned, though, that the study only had a small sample size of people infected with the South African variant because of its rarity in Israel.

They also said the research was not intended to deduce overall vaccine effectiveness against any variant, since it only looked at people who had already tested positive for COVID-19, not at overall infection rates.

Pfizer and BioNTech could not be immediately reached for comment outside business hours.

The companies said on April 1 that their vaccine was around 91% effective at preventing COVID-19, citing updated trial data that included participants inoculated for up to six months.

In respect to the South African variant, they said that among a group of 800 study volunteers in South Africa, where B.1.351 is widespread, there were nine cases of COVID-19, all of which occurred among participants who got the placebo. Of those nine cases, six were among individuals infected with the South African variant.

Some previous studies have indicated that the Pfizer/BioNTech shot was less potent against the B.1.351 variant than against other variants of the coronavirus, but still offered a robust defence.

While the results of the study may cause concern, the low prevalence of the South African strain was encouraging, according to Stern.

"Even if the South African variant does break through the vaccine's protection, it has not spread widely through the population," said Stern, adding that the British variant may be "blocking" the spread of the South African strain.

Almost 53% of Israel's 9.3 million population has received both Pfizer doses. Israel has largely reopened its economy in recent weeks while the pandemic appears to be receding, with infection rates, severe illness and hospitalizations dropping sharply. About a third of Israelis are below the age of 16, which means they are still not eligible for the shot.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Pravin Char)

>>> Got a first shot appointment on Monday. Pfizer shot. Would you go for it? <<<

 

Absolutely and without hesitation. I have the feeling we're going to need to re-up as time goes by, but til then, be less vulnerable to what our unvaccinated/unmasked neighbors want to share with us.

Remember to drink a lot of water starting now and continue through Monday/Tuesday. You'll feel a lot better for it.

Yes, get your shot. I got my 2nd pfizer this past Wed. Easy, free. Your immune response will only help you in the future. Maybe not from getting ill, but to not be on a ventilator in an ICU is totally worth it.  I got my 2nd shot early in the morning and ate a 50mg gummy in the evening to doze off quick..  Getting good sleep helped.  I did not know about lots of water. 

I'm getting Pfizer shot #2 on Tuesday. I don't think its perfect, its just a solid step in the right direction. Eager to do it.

I guess my real concern is the African variant can breakthrough the Pfizer vaccine. Say's nothing about Moderna. I'm all for the shot. Can't wait. But when I read that yesterday it made me a little hesitant, but I now realize that it certainly can't hurt. Hopefully without side effects down the line. So I'll give it a shot tomorrow. Pun intended.

I'm getting the J&J in an hour. 

I get Pfizer #2 on 4/24.

Just got second Moderna yesterday at noon.  Felt OK until about 9pm, then progressively felt worse and worse ... with chills and weird malaise.  Didn't sleep well at all and probably going to be a bit of a wreck today.

I can't help but think of how I used to look forward to the day my now deceased cat would get her vaccinations ... since I would "get a break" from her hyperactive ways / begging for food for a day or two when she was just down for the count.  Now I know what it may have felt like for her!

I heard a story on NPR the other day that said a small study found the Pfizer vaccine "prevents as much as 100% of even mild cases from the variant in South Africa."

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/04/09/985745837/can-vacci...

Got the second shot of Pfizer a couple weeks ago. Haven't died yet

Good to know, Timpane. We've all been pulling for you.

^ Still kinda creepy. Trying to enjoy my day off, if you don't mind.

I don't mind if you're trying to enjoy your day off. Why would I?

Timpy allows others to determine his mood. He's a delicate flower.

lol. Ned, you're pathetic. Feel sorry you, sport.

Wicked comeback there, Timpane. Have you been working out lately?