Thread by @DrEricDing

📍3rd shot considered—Israel Health Ministry is meeting to debate offering 3rd Pfizer vaccine doses to people with weakened immune systems. Some health officials see enough data to do so. #DeltaVariant rising in 🇮🇱. 🇬🇧 starts 3rd shot to age50+ in Sept.🧵
timesofisrael.com/health-officia…

2) “They are concerned by data that shows the vaccine has been less efficient in protecting immunocompromised people”.

Immunocompromised individuals include organ transplant recipients and cancer patients, among others.

3) “officials will also discuss booster shots for the elderly, though medical history rather than age is expected to be the most influential factor for the time being.”

4) Israel has seen some 300 daily #COVID19 cases in recent days, the highest rate since April, amid a resurgence despite heavily vaccinated.
The spike in cases, blamed on the ultra-infectious Delta variant, comes as Israel races to vaccinate its preteens and teenagers aged 12-15.

5) The 🇮🇱 health ministry expects daily diagnoses to jump to 500-600 next week, according to media reports.

6) As of Friday afternoon, 27 people in Israel were in serious condition from the virus. Six of the serious cases this week were of vaccinated individuals. All were over 60, with previous medical issues.

7) With case numbers rising, Israel has thus far reimposed an indoor mask mandate, cracked down on travelers arriving from countries with high infection rates, and enforced quarantine for new arrivals more strictly, but has avoid more restrictions so far. But cases rising fast.

8) Meanwhile, Israel has been seeking a recipient for over one million excess Pfizer vaccine doses it has that will expire by the end of July. A swap deal would see it provide the doses now to a recipient nation and in return receive one of that nation’s future shipments.

9) UK 🇬🇧 meanwhile announced it will start 3rd dose in Sept … it’s seeing hospitalizations growing despite large numbers vaccinated. Most are in unvaccinated but many in elderly or immunocompromised vaccinated

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1410827940624015364

10) we should continue to mask + vax because #DeltaVariant is fast enough to keep transmitting

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1410830290080108544

11) Uk 3rd shot rollout in September to all over age 50 will be done in conjunction with flu shots. Thus, in UK, the 3rd shot will be a very concerted push.

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1410312020050784257

12) A third dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine can boost immune protection. In new trial, 3rd dose of AZ vaccine nearly seven months after first two shots—participants reported higher antibody levels after the third dose than a month after second. #COVID19 nytimes.com/2021/06/28/wor…

13) Israel 🇮🇱 #DeltaVariant hospitalizations surging now like “clockwork” says @JeffSmithi24.

https://twitter.com/jeffsmithi24/status/1411935532393897987

14) if Israel with 60% fully vaccinated is in trouble with #DeltaVariant, then Florida with 52% and no mask rules will not fare better. And now it’s starting in Florida too….

https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1411913368533938178