Madison Clarke
In March 2020, it was reported that Israel was expected to announce the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. However, these reports were denied by the Israeli Defence Ministry, which stated that there had been no breakthrough in the efforts of the biological institute to find a vaccine for the coronavirus. While Israel is currently administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to its citizens, there is no evidence that they have developed their own vaccine. An Israeli study did find that natural immunity provides stronger protection against COVID-19 than the Pfizer vaccine, but health experts still recommend vaccination as it is dangerous to obtain natural immunity and vaccines offer protection for those with or without prior infection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| Vaccine Development | In progress |
| Vaccine Availability | Not available |
| Vaccine Testing | Clinical trials required |
| Natural Immunity | Effective but dangerous to obtain |
| Booster Shots | Lower risk of infection and serious illness |
| Sample Size for Natural Immunity Study | 2.5 million patient charts |
| Data Source for Natural Immunity Study | Maccabi Healthcare Services |
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What You'll Learn
- Israeli study finds natural immunity effective against COVID-19
- Israel's Institute for Biological Research claims to have developed a vaccine
- Vaccine development process could take up to 18 months
- Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported a breakthrough in vaccine development
- COVID-19 booster shots lower the risk of infection and serious illness
Israeli study finds natural immunity effective against COVID-19
In 2020, a viral social media post claimed that a vaccine for COVID-19 had been developed in Israel. However, this was not true. While Israel's Institute for Biological Research, a civilian organization under the Ministry of Defence, was expected to announce a breakthrough in understanding the virus and developing a vaccine, no such announcement was confirmed by the Defence Ministry.
Nevertheless, Israel has contributed significantly to the global understanding of COVID-19 and vaccine development. An Israeli study of 2.5 million patient charts from Maccabi Healthcare Services found that natural immunity is effective in fighting COVID-19. This study, which has not been peer-reviewed, revealed that fully vaccinated individuals were at greater risk of COVID-19-related hospitalizations than those who were unvaccinated but previously infected. Additionally, those who received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine and had a prior infection were half as likely to be reinfected.
Despite the findings of this study, health experts still recommend vaccination. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases, advised getting the full dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. He noted that Israel's organized health system provides valuable research insights for the global community. Other studies have also found that vaccines are "remarkably effective" in elevating antibody levels and protecting against the virus.
While natural immunity from previous COVID-19 infections may offer stronger protection than the Pfizer vaccine, as indicated by the Israeli study, it is important to consider the dangers associated with acquiring natural immunity. Vaccines provide a safer alternative, offering protection for both those who have had COVID-19 and those who have not.
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Israel's Institute for Biological Research claims to have developed a vaccine
Israel's Institute for Biological Research (IIBR), located in the central Israeli town of Nes Tziona, was established in 1952 as part of the Israel Defence Forces' Science Corps. It later became a civilian organization under the Ministry of Defense and is supervised by the Prime Minister's Office.
In February 2020, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the institute to devote resources to developing a vaccine for Covid-19. On March 12, 2020, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported that scientists at the IIBR had made a significant breakthrough in understanding the biological mechanism and qualities of the virus, including better diagnostic capability, production of antibodies for those already infected, and development of a vaccine.
The IIBR claimed to have completed the development phase of a Covid-19 vaccine. However, the Defence Ministry denied the report of a breakthrough, stating that there had been no success in finding a vaccine or developing testing kits. They emphasized that the institute's work is conducted according to a rigorous plan and that any announcements would be made in an orderly fashion.
It is important to note that the development of a vaccine typically requires a lengthy process of pre-clinical trials on animals followed by clinical trials in humans. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of side effects and how different populations are affected. While Israel has made strides in vaccine development, as of March 2021, its focus appears to be on vaccination efforts, with nearly 60% of its residents receiving at least one shot.
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Vaccine development process could take up to 18 months
As of March 2020, scientists in Israel were expected to announce that they had completed development of a vaccine for COVID-19. However, the development process requires a series of tests and experiments that may last several months before the vaccination is deemed effective and safe to use.
Developing a safe and effective vaccine usually takes five to ten years on average. However, due to the global emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, this process may be accelerated to vaccinate as many people at risk from the virus as possible. It is estimated that it could take 12 to 18 months to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.
The first step in developing a vaccine is to isolate the live virus before inactivating or weakening it. Then, researchers must determine whether this modified virus might produce immunity in people. Sometimes, the live virus is not used at all, and its genetic sequence is used to make the vaccine. This genetic sequence can also be used to make recombinant proteins, a vaccine production method that has been used for vaccines like hepatitis B.
Once the vaccine has been manufactured and tested, initial safety testing is carried out on animals to understand how different populations are affected and to get an idea of responses in humans. There are three phases of clinical trials: the vaccine is first tested on a few dozen healthy volunteers to determine its safety and whether it has any adverse effects. Next, it is tested on several hundred people for efficacy, ideally those most at risk of the disease. Finally, it is tested on several thousand people for safety and efficacy.
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Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported a breakthrough in vaccine development
In March 2020, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that scientists at the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) had made a significant breakthrough in understanding the biological mechanism and qualities of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The IIBR is a civilian organisation that operates under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office and in close communication with the Defence Ministry.
According to the Haaretz report, the scientists had developed better diagnostic capabilities and improved antibody production for those already infected with the virus. The institute was also working on developing a vaccine for COVID-19. The report quoted Defence Minister Naftali Bennett, who visited the IIBR labs, as saying:
> "I am proud of the institute staff for this terrific breakthrough. Their creativity and the Jewish mind brought about this amazing achievement."
However, the development process for a vaccine is lengthy and requires a series of tests and experiments that may last many months before the vaccination is deemed effective and safe to use. Former vaccine evaluator Manfred Green of the Israeli Ministry of Health warned that the proper vaccine development process could still take up to 18 months.
While Israel has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of COVID-19, it is important to note that, as of May 2020, no vaccine had been approved for use in Israel or anywhere else in the world.
In addition to vaccine development, Israel has also contributed to research on the effectiveness of natural immunity in fighting COVID-19. An Israeli study published in August 2022 found that natural immunity provides stronger protection against COVID-19 than the Pfizer vaccine. However, health experts still recommend vaccination, as acquiring natural immunity can be dangerous.
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COVID-19 booster shots lower the risk of infection and serious illness
In early 2020, there were reports that Israel was close to announcing the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. However, these reports were never confirmed, and as of March 2022, there is still no vaccine that can effectively treat COVID-19.
While an early Israeli study found that natural immunity provides stronger protection against COVID-19 than the Pfizer vaccine, health experts still recommend vaccination. Vaccines are a safer way to obtain protection, and they offer protection for those who have had COVID-19 and those who have not.
COVID-19 booster shots have been shown to lower the risk of infection and serious illness. Evidence suggests that vaccine protection against serious illness from COVID-19 wanes over time in older and immunocompromised individuals. A CDC analysis during the omicron-predominant period found that two months after a third dose, people were 91% protected against hospitalization, but this dropped to 78% after four months. A second booster can help shore up protection, but the timing of the additional shot is important.
For individuals under 60, it may be reasonable to wait before getting a second booster, as the vaccines are holding up well against severe disease and death. For those over 60, the added protection of a fourth shot is small, but still lowers the risk of severe outcomes and dying. Having any booster is protective, and three shots are currently considered the "magic number".
Certain medical conditions, such as obesity, lung disease, and diabetes, can increase the risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, and individuals with these comorbidities may benefit from a second booster. Immunocompromised individuals are also encouraged to get a booster as their immune responses to the vaccine tend to wane faster, and they are at higher risk of severe illness or death.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Israel did not develop a vaccine for the coronavirus. However, in March 2020, there were reports that the country was close to completing development of a vaccine.
No, as of March 2020, no country had developed a vaccine for the coronavirus.
No, Israel has not found a treatment for the coronavirus. However, in March 2020, there were reports that the country was close to developing a treatment.
Yes, an Israeli study found that natural immunity provides stronger protection against COVID-19 than the Pfizer vaccine. However, health experts still recommend vaccination as it is dangerous to catch COVID-19 and vaccines offer protection for those who have not been infected.
Yes, in August 2021, Israel found that a COVID-19 booster shot significantly lowered the risk of infection and serious illness.
