In Israel, the BNT162b2 vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was approved for use in adolescents in June 2021, shortly before an outbreak of B.1.617.2 (Delta) ...variant–dominant infection. We evaluated short-term vaccine effectiveness and found the vaccine to be highly effective among this population in this setting.
Approximately 5.1 million Israelis had been fully immunized against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after receiving two doses of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) by May 31, ...2021. After early reports of myocarditis during adverse events monitoring, the Israeli Ministry of Health initiated active surveillance.
We retrospectively reviewed data obtained from December 20, 2020, to May 31, 2021, regarding all cases of myocarditis and categorized the information using the Brighton Collaboration definition. We analyzed the occurrence of myocarditis by computing the risk difference for the comparison of the incidence after the first and second vaccine doses (21 days apart); by calculating the standardized incidence ratio of the observed-to-expected incidence within 21 days after the first dose and 30 days after the second dose, independent of certainty of diagnosis; and by calculating the rate ratio 30 days after the second dose as compared with unvaccinated persons.
Among 304 persons with symptoms of myocarditis, 21 had received an alternative diagnosis. Of the remaining 283 cases, 142 occurred after receipt of the BNT162b2 vaccine; of these cases, 136 diagnoses were definitive or probable. The clinical presentation was judged to be mild in 129 recipients (95%); one fulminant case was fatal. The overall risk difference between the first and second doses was 1.76 per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval CI, 1.33 to 2.19), with the largest difference among male recipients between the ages of 16 and 19 years (difference, 13.73 per 100,000 persons; 95% CI, 8.11 to 19.46). As compared with the expected incidence based on historical data, the standardized incidence ratio was 5.34 (95% CI, 4.48 to 6.40) and was highest after the second dose in male recipients between the ages of 16 and 19 years (13.60; 95% CI, 9.30 to 19.20). The rate ratio 30 days after the second vaccine dose in fully vaccinated recipients, as compared with unvaccinated persons, was 2.35 (95% CI, 1.10 to 5.02); the rate ratio was again highest in male recipients between the ages of 16 and 19 years (8.96; 95% CI, 4.50 to 17.83), with a ratio of 1 in 6637.
The incidence of myocarditis, although low, increased after the receipt of the BNT162b2 vaccine, particularly after the second dose among young male recipients. The clinical presentation of myocarditis after vaccination was usually mild.
We assessed effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine against infection with the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant (mostly BA.1 subvariant), among children 5-11 years of age in Israel. Using a matched ...case-control design, we matched SARS-CoV-2-positive children (cases) and SARS-CoV-2-negative children (controls) by age, sex, population group, socioeconomic status, and epidemiologic week. Vaccine effectiveness estimates after the second vaccine dose were 58.1% for days 8-14, 53.9% for days 15-21, 46.7% for days 22-28, 44.8% for days 29-35, and 39.5% for days 36-42. Sensitivity analyses by age group and period demonstrated similar results. Vaccine effectiveness against Omicron infection among children 5-11 years of age was lower than vaccine efficacy and vaccine effectiveness against non-Omicron variants, and effectiveness declined early and rapidly.
We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech, https://www.pfizer.com) booster dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduction of complications (hospitalization, severe ...disease, and death) among breakthrough cases in persons in Israel >16 years of age for <20 weeks. VE estimates reached 96.8% (95% CI 96.0%-97.5%) for persons 16-59 years of age and 93.1% (95% CI 91.8%-94.2%) for persons >60 years of age on week 3. VE estimates remained at these levels for 8 weeks in the 16-59 age group and 11 weeks in those >60. A slow decline followed, becoming more pronounced in the last 2-3 weeks of evaluation. Estimates in the last week of evaluation were 77.6% (95% CI 68.4%-84.2%) and 61.3% (52.5%-68.4%) for persons 16-59 years and >60 years, respectively. The more pronounced VE decline coincided with rapid increase in Omicron variant activity. Rate reduction of breakthrough complications remained moderate to high throughout the evaluation.
The rapid vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Israel relied on the BNT162b2 vaccine. We performed a longitudinal analysis of multiple cohorts, using individual data, to evaluate the ...effectiveness of the vaccine against new and breakthrough cases.
We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) for 27 consecutive cohorts, each comprised of individuals vaccinated on specific days. VE against new COVID-19 cases was evaluated for five SARS-CoV-2-related outcomes: infection, symptomatic disease, hospitalisation, severe/critical disease and death. For breakthrough cases, rate reduction was evaluated for hospitalisation, severe/critical disease and death. Outcomes were evaluated at predetermined time-periods after vaccination, the last one dedicated to individuals who became SARS-CoV-2-positive 22–28 days after the second dose.
The highest VE estimates against new cases in ≥16 year old individuals, for all outcomes, were reached at the 15–21 day period after the second dose, ranging between 97.7% (95% CI: 95.9–98.7%) for deaths and 98.6% (95% CI: 97.8–99.1%) for severe/critical disease. VE estimates of the 14–20 day period after the first dose ranged between 54.3% (95% CI: 50.6–57.8%) for infection and 77.3% (95% CI: 71.2–82.1%) for severe/critical disease. VE rose more slowly among ≥80 year old individuals. Rate reductions of breakthrough complications were highest at the 22–28 day period after the second dose, ranging between 47.4% (95% CI: 4.3–71.2%) for death and 66.2% (95% CI: 44.2–79.6%) for severe/critical disease.
The BNT162 vaccine is highly effective in preventing new SARS-CoV-2 cases. Among ≥80 year old individuals, high effectiveness develops more slowly. In breakthrough cases, vaccination reduces complications and death.
None.
Adenoviruses can cause a broad spectrum of clinical diseases, most of which are self-limited. However, adenovirus infection can occasionally result in severe or lethal infection. Fifty-five ...adenovirus serotypes are known today, and they are classified into 7 subgroups (subgroups A to G). Here we examined 282 samples derived from hospitalized patients in Israel (September 2006 to August 2008) who were diagnosed as suffering from adenovirus infections. We used a recently described PCR amplification method and subsequent sequencing to identify the adenovirus. In addition, we studied the medical charts of 106 hospitalized patients from Sheba Medical Center in Israel. The most prevalent adenovirus serotypes found were serotypes 1 (22.8%), 2 (19.2%), 7 (18%), and 3 (14%). In addition, we identified several serotypes that have not been identified previously in Israel. Overall, serotypes of subgroup B were found to be approximately 4 times more prevalent among immunocompromised children than among generally healthy children (52.6%; P < 0.007). The realization that the virus subtypes are different among healthy and immunocompromised patients may lead to more efficient treatment of adenovirus infections among immunocompromised children in the future.
Studies in the literature have indicated that the timing of seasonal influenza epidemic varies across latitude, suggesting the involvement of meteorological and environmental conditions in the ...transmission of influenza. In this study, we investigated the link between meteorological parameters and influenza activity in 9 sub-national areas with temperate and subtropical climates: Berlin (Germany), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Castile and León (Spain) and all 6 districts in Israel.
We estimated weekly influenza-associated influenza-like-illness (ILI) or Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) incidence to represent influenza activity using data from each country's sentinel surveillance during 2000-2011 (Spain) and 2006-2011 (all others). Meteorological data was obtained from ground stations, satellite and assimilated data. Two generalized additive models (GAM) were developed, with one using specific humidity as a covariate and another using minimum temperature. Precipitation and solar radiation were included as additional covariates in both models. The models were adjusted for previous weeks' influenza activity, and were trained separately for each study location.
Influenza activity was inversely associated (p<0.05) with specific humidity in all locations. Minimum temperature was inversely associated with influenza in all 3 temperate locations, but not in all subtropical locations. Inverse associations between influenza and solar radiation were found in most locations. Associations with precipitation were location-dependent and inconclusive. We used the models to estimate influenza activity a week ahead for the 2010/2011 period which was not used in training the models. With exception of Ljubljana and Israel's Haifa District, the models could closely follow the observed data especially during the start and the end of epidemic period. In these locations, correlation coefficients between the observed and estimated ranged between 0.55 to 0.91and the model-estimated influenza peaks were within 3 weeks from the observations.
Our study demonstrated the significant link between specific humidity and influenza activity across temperate and subtropical climates, and that inclusion of meteorological parameters in the surveillance system may further our understanding of influenza transmission patterns.
Background. We aimed to define the excess morbidity associated with bloodstream infections (BSIs), imposed by pandemic H1N1 influenza during 2009-2010 (pH1N1/2009-2010) and seasonal influenza. ...Methods. Eight hospitals, accounting for 33% of hospitalizations in Israel, provided data on BSI during 2006-2010. The age-specific incidence of BSI due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes was determined. BSI incidence rate ratios (IRRs) during seasonal and pHlNl influenza seasons were assessed. Results. Regular influenza seasons were characterized by increased rates of S. pneumoniae BSI but with no increase in S. aureus and S. pyogenes BSI rates. The pH1N1/2009-2010 influenza outbreak was characterized by (1) higher rates of S. pneumoniae bacteremia among children but not among adults (IRRs for S. pneumoniae BSI among children aged 0-4 years during the summer and winter of 2009-2010 were 14.8 95% confidence interval {CI}, 5-43.7 and 6.5 95% CI, 3.6-11.8, compared with 2006-2009 summers and influenza-active winter weeks, respectively P < .0001), higher rates of S. aureus BSI in all age groups (IRRs during the summer and winter of 2009-2010 were 1.6 95% CI, 1.4-1.9 and 1.5 95% CI, 1.2-1.7, compared with 2006-2009 summers and influenza-active weeks, respectively P < .0001), higher rates of S. pyogenes BSI during 2009-2010 influenza season (IRR 2.7 95% CI, 1.6-4.6 and 3.3 95% CI, 1.9-5.8 during the summer and winter of 2009-2010, compared with 2006-2009 summers and influenza-active weeks, respectively P < .0001). Conclusions. pHlNl influenza seasons were characterized by marked increases in invasive S. aureus and S. pyogenes infections among children and adults, with the highest increase in S. pneumoniae BSI among children.
Disordered eating (DE), defined as unhealthy eating attitudes and behaviors, is considered a major public health problem among adolescents. Nevertheless, rates of DE among Arab and Jewish adolescents ...in Israel are still unknown. Furthermore, while previous studies have highlighted the role of frequent family meals as a protective factor against DE, studies examining home family dinners relative to other common dinner options (e.g., eating at home alone, eating out of the home, not eating dinner at all) are largely unavailable. We sought to use representative data of middle and high-school children in Israel in order to identify rates of DE among Arabs and Jews, while examining the relations of home family dinners (vs. other dinner options) with DE.
A nationally representative school-based survey of 4926 middle and high-school children (11-19 years old) was conducted during 2015-2016. Participants indicated where and with whom they had eaten dinner the day before. The 5-item SCOFF questionnaire was used (> 2 affirmative items were considered a likely case of DE). Height and weight were measured by personnel.
DE was more prevalent among girls (29.7%) relative to boys (12.2%), Arabs (25.1%) relative to Jews (19.5%), and older (25.3%) relative to younger (17.6%) adolescents. Arabs were more likely to eat dinner at home with parents/family (chi
= 10.75, p = .001), or not to eat dinner at all (chi
= 63.27, p < .001), while Jews were more likely to eat dinner alone (chi
= 5.37, p = .021) or to eat dinner out of the home (chi
= 67.65, p < .001). Logistic regressions (stratified by ethnicity and adjusted for gender, age, weight) revealed that family dinners acted as a protective factor against DE, relative to eating out of the home or relative to not eating dinner at all among both ethnic groups, and relative to eating dinner alone among Arabs.
There are differences between Arab and Jewish adolescents in terms of rates of yesterday's family dinners and DE. Given that eating dinner with the family was linked with lower rates of DE, possible interventions to reduce DE may include educating parents of both Arab and Jewish adolescents regarding the importance of family meals.
PDF
