Israeli real-world data on Pfizer vaccine shows high Covid protection

Jab has 97% efficacy against disease and death and 94% against infection without symptoms

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appears to give high protection against asymptomatic Covid-19, according to data from Israel - a finding that will boost hopes that mass vaccination can stop the spread of the virus.

The top line of the real-world results, issued by the Israeli ministry of health and the companies but not yet peer-reviewed by scientists, is efficacy of 97% against disease and death and 94% against infection without symptoms.