Cases of coronavirus in Israel are rising despite widespread vaccination, indicating the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may only be 64 percent effective against the Delta variant of the virus.
The country is currently experiencing a large surge in COVID cases, including among the vaccinated.
On May 30, Israel reached its lowest case total of the pandemic, with only five new cases.
The Middle Eastern nation is now recording around 300 cases a day - a staggering 5,900 percent increase.
Israel's national expert panel on COVID-19 reported Monday that half of cases are among vaccinated adults, and they believe the Delta variant - which originated in India - is responsible.
The troubling figures emerged as the Delta variant has strengthened its hold in the United States, prompting fears of another surge.
California, the largest state in the country by population, reported Monday that the Delta variant is now their dominant strain - accounting for 36 percent of cases last month.
Nevada, Arkansas and Missouri are also dealing with large swells of cases, mostly of the Delta variant.
US health officials have maintained that the Pfizer vaccine is believed to be able to protect against the Delta variant and have yet to offer an official response to the trend in Israel.
COVID-19 cases in Israel are spiking, including among vaccinated people. A majority of people in Israel have been given the Pfizer vaccine, raising questions about the vaccines effectiveness
'To some extent that could be expected since 85 percent of Israeli adults are vaccinated,' said Ran Balicer, chairman of the panel.
'But the rates in which we see these breakthrough cases make some believe they extend beyond that expected point and suggest some decrease in vaccine effectiveness against mild illness - but not severe illness - is likely.'
The Delta variant - which is more contagious than other known virus variants - has swept across the world in recent weeks.
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