TheHill
April 14, 2021
Israeli researchers found in a study released Saturday that the COVID-19 mutation first discovered in South Africa has a greater likelihood of “breaking through” the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine than other prominent variants.
The study, which was conducted by Tel Aviv University and Clalit, reviewed the test results of 800 people — 400 of whom tested positive for the virus more than 14 days after receiving at least one vaccine dose. The other half was composed of unvaccinated individuals who also tested positive, Reuters reported. Although the South African variant made up around 1 percent of positive COVID-19 tests among the groups, it was eight times more likely to show up in a patient who had received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
The findings defied researchers initial expectations, although they concluded that given the relatively small sample size more research is needed.