An Israeli man receives a coronavirus vaccine from the Magen David Adom emergency services, in Pisgat Ze'ev, an Israeli settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. Rosie Scammell / The National
An Israeli man receives a coronavirus vaccine from the Magen David Adom emergency services, in Pisgat Ze'ev, an Israeli settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. Rosie Scammell / The National
An Israeli man receives a coronavirus vaccine from the Magen David Adom emergency services, in Pisgat Ze'ev, an Israeli settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. Rosie Scammell / The National
An Israeli man receives a coronavirus vaccine from the Magen David Adom emergency services, in Pisgat Ze'ev, an Israeli settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. Rosie Scammell / The National

MENA

Israel says Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine 92% effective after two doses

Findings bolster trial data on efficacy, ending worries about limited protection with the first dose

The National

January 28, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Only 31 of a group of 163,000 people fully vaccinated in Israel with the Pfizer-BioNtech drug have since caught Covid-19, bolstering trial figures on effectiveness of the shots.

The results indicate that the drug is 92 per cent effective in real world settings – in line with the Phase 3 trial data that indicated a 95 per cent effectiveness – the Times of Israel reported.

The newspaper said that in an equivalent group of unvaccinated people in Israel, there were 6,437 cases of Covid-19 in the same 10-day window.

While experts cheered the findings by Maccabi Health that runs a number of vaccination centres, they also pointed out it was an inexact measure as the study had no official control group to benchmark against but said it was still a strong indicator.

Cyrille Cohen, an immunology expert at Bar-Ilan University, told the paper that the wider Israeli society was a form of “imperfect” control group.

Coronavirus around the world – in pictures 

Health workers in protective gear prepare to spray disinfectant in a blocked off area in Shanghai's Huangpu district, after residents were evacuated following the detection of a few cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in the neighbourhood. AFP
Health workers in protective gear prepare to spray disinfectant in a blocked off area in Shanghai's Huangpu district, after residents were evacuated following the detection of a few cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in the neighbourhood. AFP
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk through a subway station in Beijing. China has given more than 22 million COVID vaccine shots to date as it carries out a drive ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday, health authorities said Wednesday. AP
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk through a subway station in Beijing. China has given more than 22 million COVID vaccine shots to date as it carries out a drive ahead of next month's Lunar New Year holiday, health authorities said Wednesday. AP
A health officer checks a woman temperature body as they evacuated villagers to a temporary evacuation center after mount Merapi spew pyroclastic smoke in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Getty Images
A health officer checks a woman temperature body as they evacuated villagers to a temporary evacuation center after mount Merapi spew pyroclastic smoke in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Getty Images
People wait to refill oxygen tanks for relatives sick with COVID-19 in the Iztapalapa district of Mexico City. The city is offering free oxygen refills for patients with COVID-19. AP
People wait to refill oxygen tanks for relatives sick with COVID-19 in the Iztapalapa district of Mexico City. The city is offering free oxygen refills for patients with COVID-19. AP
Around 20 members of the Thurgau Civil Defence are converting the MS Thurgau, a Lake Constance ship, into a vaccination ship, in Romanshorn, Switzerland. From 02 February onward, up to 170 people per day will be vaccinated here by the Hirslanden private hospital group at the ports of Kreuzlingen, Romanshorn and Arbon. EPA
Around 20 members of the Thurgau Civil Defence are converting the MS Thurgau, a Lake Constance ship, into a vaccination ship, in Romanshorn, Switzerland. From 02 February onward, up to 170 people per day will be vaccinated here by the Hirslanden private hospital group at the ports of Kreuzlingen, Romanshorn and Arbon. EPA
Tunisian medical staff attend coronavirus patients at the intensive care unit of the Ariana Abderrahmen Mami hospital in the city of Ariana near the Tunisian capital Tunis, during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. AFP
Tunisian medical staff attend coronavirus patients at the intensive care unit of the Ariana Abderrahmen Mami hospital in the city of Ariana near the Tunisian capital Tunis, during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. AFP
Paramedics transport COVID-19 patients from Amadora Sintra Hospital to Luz Hospital in Lisbon, in Amadora, Portugal, due to the rising of hospitalizations. The Amadora-Sintra Hospital moved a team of doctors, nurses and auxiliaries to accompany the 19 patients who are being transferred to the infirmary that will open at Hospital da Luz in Lisbon. EPA
Paramedics transport COVID-19 patients from Amadora Sintra Hospital to Luz Hospital in Lisbon, in Amadora, Portugal, due to the rising of hospitalizations. The Amadora-Sintra Hospital moved a team of doctors, nurses and auxiliaries to accompany the 19 patients who are being transferred to the infirmary that will open at Hospital da Luz in Lisbon. EPA
Pallbearers stand next to coffins of three top government officials at their burial at the National Heroes acre in Harare. Zimbabwe on Wednesday buried three top officials who succumbed to COVID-19, in a single ceremony at a shrine reserved almost exclusively for the ruling elite as a virulent second wave of the coronavirus takes a devastating toll on the country. AP
Pallbearers stand next to coffins of three top government officials at their burial at the National Heroes acre in Harare. Zimbabwe on Wednesday buried three top officials who succumbed to COVID-19, in a single ceremony at a shrine reserved almost exclusively for the ruling elite as a virulent second wave of the coronavirus takes a devastating toll on the country. AP
Relatives of a Covid-19 victim carry a coffin at the General Cemetery in the central city of Huanuco, 370 kilometers northeast of Lima. Sixteen million Peruvians will enter a two-week coronavirus lockdown covering a third of the country at the end of January, Peru's interim president said Tuesday. The South American nation's healthcare system has been overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with only 500 intensive care beds for a population of 32 million, with authorities reporting a spike in deaths as infections increase. AFP
Relatives of a Covid-19 victim carry a coffin at the General Cemetery in the central city of Huanuco, 370 kilometers northeast of Lima. Sixteen million Peruvians will enter a two-week coronavirus lockdown covering a third of the country at the end of January, Peru's interim president said Tuesday. The South American nation's healthcare system has been overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with only 500 intensive care beds for a population of 32 million, with authorities reporting a spike in deaths as infections increase. AFP

The results also come after concerns were raised when early data suggested only 33 per cent less infections in those that had the first of the two doses of the vaccine after 14 days. The findings, however, appear to bolster the indication that the second dose is crucial to building antibody levels to prevent the virus.

The news comes as Pfizer-BioNtech says that their vaccine is effective against coronavirus mutations found in the variants emerging from Britain and South Africa.

Several new variants – each with a cluster of genetic mutations – have sparked fears over an increase in infectiousness as well as suggestions that the virus could begin to elude immune response, whether from prior infection or a vaccine.

The two companies said these preliminary findings "do not indicate the need for a new vaccine to address the emerging variants".

They said they were "prepared to respond" if a new strain was shown to be able to evade the immunity of the vaccine, adding that they could produce updates to their product if needed.

Other manufactures have suggested 'booster' shots could be developed swiftly to improve the efficacy against variant strains if other drugs struggle to prevent illness.

The Intruder

Director: Deon Taylor

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good

One star

While you're here
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Carzaty%2C%20now%20Kavak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20launched%20in%202018%2C%20Kavak%20in%20the%20GCC%20launched%20in%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20140%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Automotive%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20raised%20%246m%20in%20equity%20and%20%244m%20in%20debt%3B%20Kavak%20plans%20%24130m%20investment%20in%20the%20GCC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday  (UAE kick-off times)

Leganes v Getafe (12am)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Levante v Alaves (4pm)

Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)

Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)

Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)

Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)

Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Barcelona v Granada (12am)

As You Were

Liam Gallagher

(Warner Bros)

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raha%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kuwait%2FSaudi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tech%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2414%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Soor%20Capital%2C%20eWTP%20Arabia%20Capital%2C%20Aujan%20Enterprises%2C%20Nox%20Management%2C%20Cedar%20Mundi%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20166%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

ICC T20 Team of 2021

Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi

On Women's Day
Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: N2 Technology

Founded: 2018

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Startups

Size: 14

Funding: $1.7m from HNIs

FIXTURES

Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan

The top two teams qualify for the World Cup

Classification matches 
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.

Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off

While you're here
While you're here
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.

- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.

- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The biog

Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer

Marital status: Single

Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran

Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food

Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish

Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com

Euro 2020

Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Wales, Turkey 

Group B: Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Finland

Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, 
Georgia/Kosovo/Belarus/North Macedonia

Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, 
Scotland/Israel/Norway/Serbia

Group E: Spain, Poland, Sweden, 
N.Ireland/Bosnia/Slovakia/Ireland

Group F: Germany, France, Portugal, 
Iceland/Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

 

Company: Instabug

Founded: 2013

Based: Egypt, Cairo

Sector: IT

Employees: 100

Stage: Series A

Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France

The Kites

Romain Gary

Penguin Modern Classics

Sonchiriya

Director: Abhishek Chaubey

Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment

Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey

Rating: 3/5

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Keep it fun and engaging

Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.

“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.

His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.

He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
The biog

Name: Timothy Husband

Nationality: New Zealand

Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney

Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier

Favourite music: Billy Joel

Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20366hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E550Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESix-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh360%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog:

Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

Pet Peeve: Racism 

Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne 

What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms

Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s

Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"

Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model 

Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

On Women's Day
More from Firas Maksad
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

THURSDAY'S FIXTURES

4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors

6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils

8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers

CoronavirusIsrael