General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPfizer is only supposed 40% aganist the Delta Variant
So does that mean Moderna is the best vaccine and not Pfizer. JJ has its issues and Pfizer appears now to have issues as well.
Baitball Blogger
(46,775 posts)cocktail to include protection against the Delta.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Third dose of Pfizer increases antibodies 5-10 fold.
So third dose is going to be helpful.
hlthe2b
(102,490 posts)that some reduction in immunity would be expected. 88-91% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalization under current circulating Delta variant in Israel is still excellent.
Bev54
(10,088 posts)"Pfizer and BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine is just 39% effective in Israel where the delta variant is the dominant strain, according to a new report from the countrys Health Ministry.
The two-dose vaccine still works very well in preventing people from getting seriously sick, demonstrating 88% effectiveness against hospitalization and 91% effectiveness against severe illness, according to the Israeli data."
samnsara
(17,656 posts)..hubby jabs at the local pharmacy... i may just get in line
viva la
(3,357 posts)I'm kind of willing to do that because I have had some immuno-suppressant drugs in the past (not recently) and got the Pfizer in February.
But I'm not sure that the "jabbers" would be open to that?
Also, how do we know which vax we'd get? Do the pharmacies say ahead of time?
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Israel only used Pfizer, so they don't have data for Moderna.
Hugin
(33,222 posts)Both being mRNA vaccines.
I've also heard that Moderna produces somewhat more (no idea if it's a significant amount) antibodies in the two dose inoculating regimen.
It's a shame we're back to hearsay.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)I don't think Moderna's results will be different from Pfizer's in how effective they are against delta.
Hugin
(33,222 posts)Would you happen to know if during the trials the participants were following the other protocols? Primarily masking, but, also distancing, isolation, etc?
LisaL
(44,980 posts)They take blood from vaccinated people and see how well antibodies neutralize mutant viruses.
Moderna's and Pfizers results are basically the same in how effective they are against delta (and most other variants). I had Moderna, and I am not concerned at all that its any better or worse than Pfizer.
Hugin
(33,222 posts)That makes it a little clearer to me. In-vitro studies. If that's what they are called.
These studies being released now are how the vaccines are performing mapping infections in patients to which vaccine they received, right?
LisaL
(44,980 posts)That was done on actual people (analysis of infection rates, hospitalizations etc). But Israel only used Pfizer, so they have no data for Moderna.
Ms. Toad
(34,122 posts)hlthe2b
(102,490 posts)highly effective in preventing severe disease (91%) hospitalization (88%) and death, but against Delta less so for mild infection. That is still excellent efficacy against the very reason we developed vaccines to begin with--preventing serious morbidity and mortality.
Moderna would be comparable given the similarities in the method of development and activity. Israel used Pfizer extensively and not Moderna so we don't have data on the latter.
Tadpole Raisin
(972 posts)I thought Israel only used Pfizer vaccine so those numbers from the Israeli study are for Pfizer. Is that right?
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Israel used Pfizer, not Moderna. We don't have a comparable study done for Moderna.
But Moderna and Pfizer seem to give very similar results for everything.
Johnny2X2X
(19,253 posts)UK provided their data for a similar study and it showed 88% for Pfizer against the Delta Variant. Theres no data released with the Israeli study, Id wait and see on it.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)So don't count on 88% holding.
Israel's latest data is much more recent.
Johnny2X2X
(19,253 posts) Only modest differences in vaccine effectiveness were noted with the delta variant as compared with the alpha variant after the receipt of two vaccine doses. Absolute differences in vaccine effectiveness were more marked after the receipt of the first dose. This finding would support efforts to maximize vaccine uptake with two doses among vulnerable populations. (Funded by Public Health England.)
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-is-less-effective-against-delta-infections-but-still-prevents-serious-illness-israel-study-shows-11627059395
The findings, which are preliminary and based on a small sample, suggest that after two shots the vaccine was 39% effective at reducing the risk of infection and 40% effective at reducing the risk of symptomatic disease during a period when the Delta variant dominated cases in Israel, according to the countrys Health Ministry. The vaccine was 91% effective at preventing severe illness in the same period between June 20 and July 17, the ministry said.
The big difference is that the UK study was more controlled and with a valid sample size. And the UK study actually took the time to make sure their sample was only the Delta, so when it happened is irrelevant.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)On people who got infected before end of May.
I don't think there is any way they would get 88% efficacy for June/July.
Want to place a bet?
Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)Johnny2X2X
(19,253 posts)The Israeli study didnt.
PurgedVoter
(2,220 posts)It is not amazingly effective at keeping you from getting Delta, but a 40% chance with a pair of injections is a lot better than a week down. In addition it is very effective from keeping you from having the worst symptoms, so while it might not be perfect, it will let you survive a hit that might then give you a much better resistance.
Not a perfect vaccine, still a great vaccine.
I had moderna, the problem with moderna is that it is the vaccine that no one tells you anything about. It is barely mentioned in passing with no statistics when the other vaccines are constantly detailed.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Where it was highly effective in preventing infection.
Delta is much more infectious and people with delta have much high virus loads.
So it's not surprising it's less effective in preventing infection.
As for Moderna, I also had it.
Every study done so far showed Moderna and Pfizer give similar results.
Ms. Toad
(34,122 posts)It is essentially identical to Pfizer.
This study from Israel doesn't, since Israel administered few if any Moderna vaccinations.
Arkansas Granny
(31,538 posts)This makes me think that Pfizer, Moderna and J&J are all effective against Delta variant. I have no idea what the breakthrough rates are with each one, but I feel relatively safe from infection.
FWIW, I am still masking up and avoiding crowds.
ETA: I had Moderna. Fully vaxxed since March. If a booster is recommended, I'll get in line.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)And there lies the difference.
Phoenix61
(17,023 posts)Interesting article Is the Israel study or the UK study correct?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.jpost.com/%2520israel-pfizer-news/is-israel-or-the-uk-right-when-it-comes-to-covid-19-vaccine-effectiveness-674766/amp
That study was done on those infected before the end of May.
Israel's data is much more recent, June, July.
Phoenix61
(17,023 posts)Israel vaccinated people, the elderly and health care workers, in January while the UK had a slower rollout. The UK also had a more time between the first and second does which seems to be the sweet spot. Several other points made.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)When the study was done in UK, alpha was still a dominant variant.
Now it's delta.
A lot can change in a few months.
Phoenix61
(17,023 posts)Eugene
(61,974 posts)The latest report was that the Pfizer vaccine is about ~85% effective against the delta variant. Others range from 65% to 90%.
Israel is giving booster shots to certain at-risk populations (immunocompromised, elderly, etc.)
Moderna vs Pfizer: differences may not be statistically significant
Lovie777
(12,390 posts)Phoenix61
(17,023 posts)This is from a doctor at an Israel hospital talking about oxygen levels.
Take a patient who is in my hospital now as an example, she said. He is in his 80s and classed as severe, but only because he had a mild drop in saturation. It was something that any other disease would cause, and which were treating well with steroids, but he is classed as a serious case.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-study-claims-major-drop-in-vaccine-protection-experts-dont-believe-it/amp/
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Which is done by PCR (positive or negative).
Phoenix61
(17,023 posts)Report says protection against serious COVID-19 illness fell to 80%, or 50% for over-60s; government adviser, physician and health statistics expert all criticize research
wiggs
(7,820 posts)terms of knowledge, prep, understanding, treatment. Always behind by weeks. Always playing catch up.
Seems that, since early days of the pandemic, lack of clarity has been part of the dynamic.
wiggs
(7,820 posts)their guards a bit? Feeling invulnerable? It was said in recent months that you are 'protected' against the virus without clarification of what 'protected' means, and I think many of us interpreted that to mean you can't get infected in the first place. Which, now, we believe is not correct.
Vaccination = more activity around others = more exposure
Fiendish Thingy
(15,696 posts)Bad Thoughts
(2,538 posts)It's important to keep in mind that the 40% number reflects the numbers coming in, not tests that are going on in the lab. Under 40% is somewhat discouraging, but it does not impugn the effectiveness of the vaccine in and of itself. Instead, it shows problems with the effects it is having at the public at large, given the current social and health policies.
Israel is still under 60% two-dose vaccinations. That is under what is predicted for herd immunity to take effect, for any of these vaccines to do what we need.
The story shouldn't be about the vaccine, but about health policy and how the vaccines fit into the broader fight against CV19.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-sees-drop-pfizer-vaccine-protection-against-infections-still-strong-2021-07-05/
Tomconroy
(7,611 posts)Effectiveness against the Delta variant. All of the studies except one (whose methodology has been criticized) show the vaccine to be highly effective.
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-well-covid-19-vaccines-work-against-the-delta-variant#Vaccines-vs.-delta-variant
brooklynite
(94,900 posts)Ms. Toad
(34,122 posts)data available so the results can be confirmed. In addition, scientists have questioned study methods.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/07/23/pfizer-shot-just-39-effective-against-delta-infection-but-largely-prevents-severe-illness-israel-study-suggests/?sh=5b113c94584f
Second - Israel did not administer Moderna (as of February - I didn't find later info), so it can't study what it doesn't administer. There is no reason to believe that Pfizer and Moderna create vastly different immunity (whether that is around 88% - as at least two studies have suggested - or this lower level).
This is such an outlier that I am suspicious. Certainly something to watch, but nothing to lose sleep over.
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,788 posts)Pfzier has more data due to the deal that Pfzier made with Israel (Israel got a ton of vaccine early and agreed to report results)
My son is in the Pfzier trial and has been asked to participate in booster trial. I suspect that we will all be taking boosters in the future to maintain antibody response