Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

A woman receives a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Clalit Health Services in Mevaseret Zion, Jan. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

March 17, 2022, 3:26 pm

Before age 60, 4th vaccine slightly cuts infection rates, moderately thwarts illness

Peer-reviewed Israeli research likely to be widely noted worldwide as health authorities debate whether to administer 4th doses to the general population

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: a pregnant woman during the pandemic (iStock via Getty Images)

March 4, 2022, 10:02 am

As false fears persist, new Israeli study finds COVID shots don’t harm IVF outcomes

Rejecting ‘unfounded claims in popular media,’ peer-reviewed 428-woman research shows 25% of IVF transfers result in pregnancy, regardless of vaccination status, COVID infection

By Nathan Jeffay

A healthcare worker holds doses of the coronavirus vaccine in Jerusalem on November 23, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

February 18, 2022, 7:11 pm

COVID reinfections far higher for recovered patients who shun vaccine: Israeli study

Natural immunity alone much weaker than recovery-plus-shot, mass peer-reviewed research finds; before Omicron, those with ‘hybrid’ protection were 82% less likely to be reinfected

By Nathan Jeffay

The title page of the Henry Einspruch Yiddish translation of the New Testament. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

February 17, 2022, 2:07 pm

Daily Briefing Feb. 17: Yiddish New Testament; virtual Chabad house; good COVID news

Health reporter Nathan Jeffay offers some rays of light from a waning Omicron wave; news editor Luke Tress dives into messianic Jewish missionaries and a virtual Chabad house

By TOI staff

A health worker prepares to give a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit Health Services center in Katzrin, Golan Heights, January 9, 2022. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

February 16, 2022, 9:51 pm

In first test outside US, Israeli hospital to trial Omicron-specific Pfizer vaccine

As part of new research, Sheba Medical Center will administer 200 doses of a new shot designed to have increased effectiveness against the variant

By Nathan Jeffay

A health worker administers a dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at the Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania, Sept. 14, 2021. (Matt Rourke/AP)

February 16, 2022, 11:27 am

CDC says COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy may protect babies after birth

Top US health group finds Pfizer and Moderna shots given to expecting mothers halve the rate of later coronavirus infection among their babies

By AP and TOI staff

Healthcare worker receives a vaccine, at the Sheba Medical Center on January 5, 2022 (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

February 13, 2022, 3:12 pm

Israeli hospital planning to join global trial of Pfizer’s Omicron vaccine – report

Sheba Medical Center said to be readying to participate in study; trial to consist of those over 60 who haven’t yet had 2nd booster shot, mainly staff members and their families

By TOI staff

A person is injected with her second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Dallas County Health and Human Services vaccination site in Dallas, Texas, on August 26, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

February 11, 2022, 10:26 pm

US regulators delay approval process for Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for kids under 5

FDA says more data needed on how well 3rd doses work in this age group, creating uncertainty over when the shots will be okayed for young children

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and MATTHEW PERRONE

A woman receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit health care center in Jerusalem, on October 3, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 11, 2022, 9:38 pm

Women nearly twice as likely to report side effects from COVID vaccine, study finds

Lead researcher in peer-reviewed Israeli study posits that the immune system in women responds more strongly than in men to foreign antigens

By TOI staff

A pregnant woman recieves a COVID-19 vaccine at the Givatayim mall, outside of Tel Aviv, August 23, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

February 10, 2022, 9:48 pm

Israeli study shows vaccinating pregnant women with Pfizer shot is safe for fetus

Examining thousands of women for incidence of preterm births, hospitalizations, birth defects and mortality, research says no difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated

By TOI staff

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla speaks during a ceremony in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Oct. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, File)

February 9, 2022, 3:47 am

Pfizer sees COVID-19 vaccine, therapeutic sales topping $50 billion in 2022

Chief Executive Albert Bourla says 2021 was a ‘watershed year’ for drugmaker; its efforts during the pandemic ‘fundamentally changed our company forever’

By John BIERS

Health care staff receive a 4th dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, at the Sheba Medical Center, on January 5, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

February 6, 2022, 12:41 am

A different COVID-19 vaccine debate: Do we need new ones?

‘We need collectively to be rethinking what is the goal of vaccination,’ doctor says, as shots prove effective at saving lives but not in preventing spread of new variants

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

Illustrative -- A child receives a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Sacramento, California, Jan. 25, 2022 (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

February 1, 2022, 8:41 am

Pfizer COVID vaccine could be available for under-5s in US by end of February

Regulators urge drugmaker to apply for emergency authorization of 2-dose regimen of shot for kids aged 6 months to 5 years old while awaiting data on 3-dose course

By AP and TOI staff

A medical assistant prepares a syringe with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children at a vaccination center set up at a car dealership in Iserlohn, western Germany, on January 5, 2022. (Ina Fassbender/AFP)

January 25, 2022, 2:41 pm

Pfizer, BioNTech begin Omicron vaccine trial

CEO Albert Bourla has said pharmaceutical giant could be ready to file for regulatory approval of tweaked dose by March

By AFP

January 23, 2022, 9:53 pm

Health Ministry: 4th dose triples protection from serious illness for over-60s

Ministry says 2nd booster also doubles protection against infection during current wave; officials mull scrapping Green Pass restrictions

By TOI staff