Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

File - a health worker prepares a vaccine dose at a vaccination center in Jerusalem on January 4, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 10, 2023, 9:21 am

Israeli study: Omicron-fighting boosters cut hospitalization in over-65s by 81%

Largest investigation of the new COVID shots suggests they also sharply reduce deaths, calling them ‘an effective and essential tool’; research is not yet peer-reviewed

By Nathan Jeffay

A healthcare worker prepares a COVID vaccine dose at the Sheba Medical Center on January 5, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

December 20, 2022, 4:46 pm

Power of 4th vaccine doses is in keeping COVID mild, Israeli study finds

When it comes to avoiding ‘substantial’ disease, boost was 71% effective for Pfizer, 89% for Moderna, but 4th shots give only small edge over 3-dose regimen in preventing infection

By Nathan Jeffay

An Israeli woman receives her fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine in a private nursing home in Petah Tikva, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

November 28, 2022, 5:38 am

Israeli data provides ‘safety assurances’ to world on fourth COVID shots — study

As winter sets in and health workers in many countries meet hesitance regarding 2nd booster, major Israeli research explores safety and concludes there’s no cause for concern

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: A medical worker prepares a vial of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at Clalit Health Service's center in the Cinema City complex in Jerusalem, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

November 10, 2022, 4:44 pm

4th COVID shot boosts antibodies for 13 weeks, Israeli study finds

Research shows defense against infection fades by 15 weeks, but protection against serious illness may be longer, according to researchers at Sheba Medical Center

By Nathan Jeffay

Booster shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are displayed during a vaccine clinic in Townshend, Vt., on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)

November 4, 2022, 1:22 pm

Pfizer says study shows updated COVID shots gives major protection boost

Shot tweaked to target Omicron strain gives those 55 and older a four-fold boost over those who got regular shot and 13 times more antibodies than those with no booster

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

In this May 19, 2021, photo, a licensed practical nurse draws a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a mass vaccination clinic at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

October 7, 2022, 11:46 am

4th shots of Pfizer, Moderna vaccines provide near equal protection — Israeli study

Sheba-led research team says that 6 months after boosters, ‘antibody levels and cumulative vaccine efficacy do not differ between the two vaccines’

By Nathan Jeffay

A man receives the fifth Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from medical staff at Clalit Health services in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

September 22, 2022, 10:53 pm

Israel begins rollout of COVID vaccines tailored to Omicron

Health authorities recommend those 65 and up receive vaccine along with other at-risk groups

By AP

Illustrative image: a man receives his fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at a Clallit vaccine center in Jerusalem on January 3, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

September 20, 2022, 11:24 am

Clinics to begin rollout of variant-tailored COVID shots this week

Elderly and at-risk to be given priority; unclear whether vaccines will immediately be available to all, with lethargic response expected from public

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: an Israeli woman receives a coronavirus vaccine at the Hadassah Medical Center, in Jerusalem, on January 6, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

September 15, 2022, 6:46 am

Israelis to start getting new variant-tailored shots by end of month — COVID czar

Second-generation vaccines being distributed to healthcare providers, as scientific community waits expectantly to see how much they help

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: A health worker prepares a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

September 6, 2022, 1:41 pm

New Omicron-busting shots score a point in race against variants – expert

Vaccines will increase protection even though Omicron has already changed since they were developed, says Bar-Ilan epidemiologist

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative: A woman wears a face mask, to prevent against the spread of coronavirus, at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, May 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

September 2, 2022, 7:39 pm

EU says new COVID strains may soon emerge, but vaccines should remain effective

27-nation bloc preparing to roll out booster campaign ahead of feared wave of new cases come winter

By AFP

This August 2022 photo provided by Pfizer shows vials of the company's updated COVID-19 vaccine during production in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Pfizer via AP)

August 31, 2022, 8:42 pm

US FDA authorizes updated COVID boosters tailored to new subvariants

Following CDC approval, new ‘bivalent’ shots — which are half the original vaccine and half an Omicron-targeted version — expected to roll out across America

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

A vial of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, on a table at an inoculation station next to Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, on July 19, 2022. (AP Photo/ Rogelio V. Solis)

August 26, 2022, 5:20 pm

Moderna sues Pfizer, BioNTech over patents behind COVID vaccine

Massachusetts-based firm accuses rival and its partner of copyright infringement, filing suit in both US and German courts

By Tom Murphy

A syringe is prepared with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic at the Keystone First Wellness Center in Chester, Pennsylvania, December 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

July 30, 2022, 9:17 pm

Sealing deals with vaccine makers, US plans Omicron booster rollout in the fall

FDA says tweaked Pfizer and Moderna shots to be available as early as September, but urges fourth dose of existing vaccine for eligible adults

By MATTHEW PERRONE and LAURAN NEERGAARD

July 17, 2022, 5:31 pm

UK study: Omicron subvariant 4 times more resistant to vaccines

US doctor calls BA.5 ‘hypercontagious’ and WHO says pandemic ‘nowhere near over’ as virus continues to mutate worldwide and cause concern among experts

By Michael Horovitz and AP