Posted on 03/27/22
| News Source: JPost
The fourth coronavirus vaccine resulted in a 78% decrease in COVID-19 related deaths in adults aged 60-100, according to a new study by Clalit Health Services.
The study, conducted by Clalit, Sapir College and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, examined the effect the second booster shot had on mortality rates of the population eligible to receive it in Israel. The research was led by Dr. Ronen Arbel, a health outcomes researcher at Clalit Health Services and Sapir College. The paper is currently awaiting peer review.
At the time of its introduction, the fourth vaccine was controversial due to a lack of epidemiological and large-scale clinical evidence on the efficacy of a second booster shot. As a result, uptake of it among eligible populations was significantly lower than it had been at the start of the first booster distribution.
However, the study’s authors are hoping that with the release of the new information in the study, showing that the fourth vaccine did significantly reduce COVID-19 related deaths, people who have been hesitant up until now will decide to be inoculated with a second booster shot.
The researchers examined data from all 563,465 Clalit Health Services members eligible for the fourth vaccine. The median age of the participants was 73 years old, and 53% of participants were female.