![Paramedics vaccinate elderly people nursing home in Tel Aviv on 13 January 2021 [Nir Keidar/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210113_2_46344970_61522998.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
At least eight people in Israel are known to have the Indian variant of Covid-19, the ministry of health revealed on Tuesday. A ministry official said that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is at least partially effective against the new strain, Reuters has reported.
“The impression is that the Pfizer vaccine has efficacy against it, albeit a reduced efficacy,” explained the ministry’s director-general, Hezi Levy.
Britain and Ireland have also said that they are investigating the variant after detecting it within their borders, said Reuters.
Israel has fully vaccinated around 81 per cent of its 9.3 million population over the age of 16. The number of Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations has fallen sharply.
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