The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 'weaker' against the Indian 'Delta' variant than health officials had hoped, a new report from Israel claims
On Friday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a discussion about the coronavirus with his Cabinet at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.
Israel once led the entire world in the vaccine race, vaccinating 61 percent of its population with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - but is now dealing with a surge in cases.
On Thursday, the test positivity rate was 1.52 percent, which is the highest number since March.
As of June 6, the vaccine provides 64 percent protection against infection from the variant, according to the Israeli government
'At the moment, there is an idea that is spreading to the effect that the protective ability of the existing vaccines against the Delta mutation is weaker than what we had hoped,' Bennett said.
'We do not know exactly to what degree the vaccine helps, but it is significantly less. We are all hoping to see a slowdown but the facts at the moment are that there is no slowdown, not here and not in the world.'
Israel says the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 'weaker' against the Indian 'Delta' variant as the country deals with a new surge in infections
New data from the Israeli government show the two-dose shot provides just 64% protection against infection. Pictured: A medical worker prepares to dilute a vial of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, March 2021
The Delta variant has been labeled as a 'double mutant' by India's Health Ministry because it carries two mutations: L452R and E484Q.
L452R is the same mutation seen with the California homegrown variant and E484Q is similar to the mutation seen in the Brazilian and South African
