Alroy-Preis: Initial reports question vaccine strength against new variant
Alroy-Preis added that the South African strain is troubling because it might lead to higher rates of infection amongst the younger populations.
By SARAH BEN-NUNHead of Public Health Services Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis receives the coronavirus vaccine, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, December 20, 2020(photo credit: RABIN MEDICAL CENTER)
Head of Public Health Services Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis said on Wednesday that it is not yet clear how the current vaccine affects the South African variant strain of the coronavirus.The statement was made during a meeting of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, which concluded with the decision to extend the current travel regulations to January 18, including the requirement to enter quarantine upon their return to Israel.The South African health minister introduced the variant on Friday, "The SARS-COV-2 Virus - currently termed 501.V2 Variant - has been identified by our genomics scientists here in South Africa," he tweeted, reasoning that South Africa's current wave is due to the variant.The current regulations require incoming travelers to quarantine in a corona hotel for 14 days. It is possible to quarantine at home under three conditions: signing a quarantine declaration upon entry, getting tested at the airport, and providing a written commitment to getting tested again on the ninth day of quarantine.Alroy-Preis added that the South African strain is troubling because it might lead to higher rates of infection amongst the younger populations.She cited a study that examined 11 cases where the vaccine was shown to be less effective against the South African strain.The study she was referring to was published on MedRXiv on December 22. MedRXiv is a website where scientific research articles are published, opened up for peer-review. The website is public though, so studies can be analyzed and viewed by anyone."If we wind up concluding that it [the vaccine] isn't [properly effective] against the strain," she added, "we will require everyone who tested positive, or who have returned from South Africa, to quarantine in a hotel."
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