sitivity analyses, vaccine effectiveness estimates were also calculated with the same method for people who had received two BNT162b2 doses and for whom at least 14 days had passed after the second dose, as well as for those who had received one dose and for whom 14–21 days had passed after the first dose. Role of the funding source The Israel MoH and Pfizer separately provided in-kind support to this study. No funding was exchanged between the Israel MoH and Pfizer. MoH and Pfizer were involved in the study design and writing of the report, and approved the decision to submit for publication. Results The vaccination campaign was launched on Dec 20, 2020, around the time of a surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections in Israel that resulted in a nationwide lockdown on Dec 27, 2020 (figure 1). Additional lockdown restrictions were implemented on Jan 8, 2021. Daily SARS-CoV-2 infections increased in December, 2020, peaking at 10 213 on Jan 20, 2021. Phased reopening occurred on Feb 7 and Feb 21, 2021, and the lockdown was lifted on March 7, 2021. From Jan 24 to April 3, 2021 (the study period), there were 232 268 SARS-CoV-2 infections. 213 919 (92∙1%) of infected individuals were interviewed and 186 109 (87∙1%) answered the questions about the presence or absence of symptoms. People aged 16 years or older accounted for 154 648 (66∙6%) infections, among which 31 548 (20∙4%) were in the Arab sector, 24 280 (15∙7%) in the ultra-Orthodox sector, and 98 220 (63∙9%) in the general Jewish (nonultra-Orthodox) sector. During the study period, 7694 COVID-19 hospitalisations, 4481 severe or critical COVID-19 hospitalisations, and 1113 COVID-19 deaths Figure 1: Daily laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in Israel (Nov 1, 2020, to April 3, 2021) Dec 1, 2020 Jan 1, 2021 Feb 1, 2021 March 1, 2021 April 1, 2021 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 6000 8000 10000 5000 7000 9000 Reported laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection
Age-groups, years 16–44 3646848 2 290820 (62∙8%) 45–64 1 764098 1408492 (79∙8%) ≥65 1 127965 1015620 (90∙0%) Sex† Female 3 337693 2 398547 (71∙9%) Male 3 201 218 2 310788 (72∙2%) Sector Arab 1 226788 669542 (54∙6%) Ultra-Orthodox 534146 228479 (42∙8%) General Jewish (non-ultra-Orthodox) 4777977 3816911 (79∙9%) Calendar week in 2021 Jan 17 to 23 ·· 248196 Jan 24 to 30 ·· 773 331 Jan 31 to Feb 6 ·· 767416 Feb 7 to 13 ·· 285 272 Feb 14 to 20 ·· 412001 Feb 21 to 27 ·· 443 542 Feb 28 to March 6 ·· 408882 March 7 to 13 ·· 391983 March 14 to 20 ·· 415 510 March 21 to 27 ·· 382 569 March 28 to April 3 ·· 186230 Overall 6538911 4714932 (72∙1%) Data are n or n (%). *Defined as people for whom at least 7 days had passed after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine. †Sex was not recorded for 5597 fully vaccinated individuals. Table 1: Numbers and proportions of people fully vaccinated with BNT162b2 in the Israel population aged 16 years and older
