Ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, the world and Israel have experienced a number of waves of morbidity. We overcame the first two waves through lockdowns that took a high toll on society and the economy. Israel stopped the third wave first and foremost with the world's fastest and most efficient vaccine campaign.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Israel is one of the world's leading countries in terms of its vaccination rate and the percentage of people inoculated. It is thanks to this unprecedented achievement that Israel can and must live securely alongside the coronavirus through risk management and minimum harm to its citizens. Living safely with the virus means creating a balance between implementing steps to rein in infection and serious illness and preventing major damage to the economy and society.
It is possible to live alongside the coronavirus thanks to the vaccine's impressive ability to prevent serious illness, even when the delta variant is concerned. Proof of this can be found in data from Israel and around the world. In January 2021, Israel confirmed around 8,000 new cases and 50 deaths every day, to our regret. That same month, Britain recorded 45,000 new cases and over 560 deaths in one day. Now, in July 2021, Israel is confirming 973 confirmed cases and two deaths in one day, while Britain is recording 31,000 new cases and 96 deaths in one day. In light of these findings, Israel's central mission is to convince around 1 million Israelis who have not been vaccinated to do so.
The different course the coronavirus has taken in the current wave presents a challenge to the medical world. We must understand the significance of infection with the delta variant through medical research. The vaccine is highly effective – around 90%- at preventing serious illness from this variant.
Still, we must not dismiss infections, as some of those infected are liable to deteriorate and become seriously ill. We must therefore decide whether and when to offer a third vaccine dose or booster shot to increase antibody levels and help prevent infection. At this stage, the medical world cannot provide an answer based on medical data.
Today, the Health Ministry and Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer will begin to research families with confirmed coronavirus patients that have been inoculated against the virus and who agreed to take part in the study. Researchers will try to determine the infection rate among vaccinated individuals and the nature of the disease among those infected to help determine policies that will allow Israel to remain open and safe.
At the same time, Sheba Medical Center has already begun to collect data from research into immunocompromised individuals, including the elderly, who received a third vaccine dose.
Israel undoubtedly leads the world when it comes to the coronavirus, and the professional "Torah will go forth from Zion."
A combination of increasing the vaccination rate, mask-wearing, increased testing, enforcement, and research, and avoiding a lockdown as much as possible will allow us to live safely alongside the coronavirus and ensure we manage the pandemic instead of the pandemic managing us.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
