Unvaccinated 1.5 times more likely to contract Delta variant

Almost all newly hospitalized patients contract highly contagious coronavirus strain; study shows vaccine less effective in preventing infection, still very capable of preventing hospitalization, severe illness
Alexandra Lukash, Nir Cohen|
People who are not fully vaccinated against coronavirus are 1.5 times more likely to contract the Delta variant than their fully dosed counterparts, a new study by the Military Intelligence Directorate published Monday showed.
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  • Almost all newly hospitalized patients across the country contracted the highly contagious Delta variant, which, according to the study, has infected 0.12% of all vaccinated, and 0.18% of all unvaccinated in Israel.
    4 View gallery
    Medical workers, seen through a window of an observation room, wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as they work inside an underground ward
    Medical workers, seen through a window of an observation room, wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as they work inside an underground ward
    Rambam Medical Campus' underground COVID-19 ward
    (Photo: Reuters)
    The study further showed that while the vaccine is less effective in preventing infection, it is still highly capable of preventing hospitalization and severe illness.
    "I suddenly felt a weakness I had never felt before in my life,” recalled 58-year-old Anat, who contracted the Delta variant despite getting immunized earlier this year after she participated in a closed room meeting with maskless colleagues.
    "My temperature rose to 38.5 degrees Celcius (101 degrees Fahrenheit), and I just couldn’t function. I also had a cold, and I couldn't breathe,” she said.
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    בדיקות קורונה מהירות בירושלים
    בדיקות קורונה מהירות בירושלים
    COVID-19 testing in Jerusalem
    (Photo: AFP)
    "Fortunately, I did not need to go to the hospital. On Sunday, I had some heart palpitations because I measured my oxygen and it dropped. Usually, it means hospitalization, but I felt ok and it finally passed on its own,” she added.
    Another inoculated individual who contracted the Delta variant is 49-year-old Liron, who believes he was infected by his son.
    "He was at summer camp, and after it finished he underwent a COVID test which came back negative,” Liron said.
    “After three days, it turned out there was a confirmed patient in camp, so my son underwent another test, which came back positive this time. I took him by car. We drove with masks, but it didn't help. Despite the vaccine, I got infected. In terms of symptoms, it's like mild flu: fever, muscle aches, weakness, and dry cough."
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    לירון ברוורמן
    לירון ברוורמן
    Liron with his son, from whom he believes he got contracted coronavirus
    Another confirmed patient is 44-years-old Shlomi, who was also infected despite being fully vaccinated.
    “I allowed myself to go around without a mask since I got both jabs,” Shlomi told Ynet. “Eventually, I got infected. It included a pretty high fever, two hard nights with 39 degrees [Celcius, 102 degrees Fahrenheit], as well as a sudden loss of taste and smell,” he said.
    “I call on everyone to wear masks, to keep your distance and to generally be careful,” Shlomi pleaded to the general public. “The antibodies weaken. Anyone who was vaccinated six months ago is not protected anymore.”
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    מתחסנים במנה השלישית
    מתחסנים במנה השלישית
    An elderly woman receiving the third jab of the COVID vaccine
    (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
    Due to the current surge in COVID cases around the country, Israel has recently launched its third jab campaign, offering a booster shot to fully dosed citizens over the age of 60.
    Health Ministry statistics show that more than 420,000 Israelis aged 60 and over have received the booster shot thus far, more than a third of the total target population.
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