Israel Reports 0.0032% Rate of Serious Side Effects from Pfizer Vaccine Administration

On the morning of the 27th, when Pfizer vaccine administration began for medical staff treating COVID-19 patients, the Pfizer vaccine was waiting to be thawed at room temperature in the vaccination room of the Central Vaccination Center at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. /Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] According to the Jerusalem Post on the 6th (local time), the rate of serious side effects in Israel, where more than half of the population has been vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, was reported to be 0.0032%.

Israel imported the Pfizer vaccine on December 19th last year and began nationwide vaccinations. So far, over 4.9 million people, accounting for more than 52% of the total population (approximately 9.3 million), have received the first dose, and over 3.66 million people, more than 39%, have completed the second dose.

According to the latest report released by the Israeli Ministry of Health, among 4,755,585 first-dose recipients, 9,595 reported adverse symptoms, and among 3,408,825 second-dose recipients, 8,743 reported symptoms.

The report states that as of the 1st, the adverse symptoms were mild. Among first-dose recipients, 4,256 complained of pain at the injection site, and 4,436 reported fever and pain. For the second dose, 2,092 cases of injection site pain and 6,122 cases of fever and other pains were reported.

Allergic reactions were reported in 220 cases after the first dose and 101 cases after the second dose. Anaphylaxis, which includes systemic urticaria symptoms caused by antigen-antibody reactions, occurred in 4 cases after the first dose and 3 cases after the second dose.

Neurological adverse symptoms were reported in 487 cases after the first dose and 250 cases after the second dose. Among these, 474 cases involved sensory abnormalities, 73 cases of facial nerve palsy, 28 cases of taste disorders, 23 cases of seizures, 14 cases of loss of consciousness, and 5 cases of transient cerebral ischemia. Additionally, 59 cases involved unknown neurological issues.

Hospitalizations due to adverse reactions after vaccination were reported in 62 cases after the first dose and 42 cases after the second dose. The Jerusalem Post reported that 75% of those hospitalized after the first dose had pre-existing underlying conditions.

Serious adverse reactions were reported in 153 cases after the first dose and 162 cases (0.0047%) after the second dose. Reported symptoms included ▲blurred vision ▲pleurisy ▲myocarditis ▲heart attack ▲liver damage.