Israel has fully vaccinated nearly 80% of its population aged 12 and above, making it one of the highest COVID vaccination countries in the world. However, the country has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases since restrictions were lifted in June, according to The Conversation.
So, why is Israel facing such a surge?
Experts believe that herd immunity is much harder with the highly contagious Delta variant, as it has become the most dominating strain in most countries, including the United States. They also say it is enough to achieve herd immunity even with the original strain and the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
In Israel, nearly 60% of hospitalized COVID cases are vaccinated. Breakthrough cases are rare but are possible and expected, as all the vaccines are not 100% effective. However, the vaccines remain effective at preventing severe COVID-19 illness.
Another reason why Israel is facing resurgence is lifting restrictions too quickly. It is clear that lifting all restrictions and mask mandates after the arrival of the Delta variant resulted in surging cases not only in Israel but also in the U.S. and U.k.
The Delta variant, which was first identified in India, can escape the protection offered by vaccines. And officials say the protection seems to wane over time even after receiving the two doses.
We need a much higher herd immunity threshold in order to tackle the Delta strain, likely more than 80% of the whole population, not the 60% that has been achieved in Israel, according to The Conversation.
More worryingly, more than 70% of infections with the Delta variant arise from the asymptomatic transmission, making it harder to control the outbreak.
Moreover, breakthrough cases of the Delta strain in vaccinated people can be as infectious as in unvaccinated people.
However, there is some good news in San Francisco, one of the most highly vaccinated cities in the U.S., as more than 70% of the whole population has been vaccinated and cases have started to decline – thanks to the reintroduction of social measures such as mask mandates.
Meanwhile, Israel has reintroduced a green-pass system of proof of vaccination or a negative test for anyone three years or over accessing public indoor spaces. It has also started vaccinating over-50s with a third dose booster,” according to The Conversation.
It seems that a third dose dramatically boosts immunity, even in immunocompromised people. The U.S. has already started administering a third dose in immunocompromised people, and it is soon expected to offer a booster dose for the general population.
