The latest: updates on the study of COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in Jordan

The Joint Chiefs of Staff - the Arab Army and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship have completed the third update within the study around the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in Jordan.

In turn, the Adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Medical Affairs, Adel Al-Wahadneh, said that while studies and global observations on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines are a basis for evaluation, local observations enhance and boost confidence among citizens.

He added that this update is the third within the joint study between the Arab Army and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship in Jordan, which took place July 4, 2021.

The main objective of this study was to tally the number of infected people after the first and second doses within target groups, their ratios among the most commonly used vaccines in Jordan, and the average days of infection.

Wahadneh said some individuals catch the virus post-jab because vaccination gradually builds up immunity within two to four weeks from the date of vaccination.

He pointed out that the size of the target group for vaccination amounted to 6,500,000 citizens and residents, and the study indicated that the percentage of those who were vaccinated with the first dose reached 38 percent, while those vaccinated with second dose reached 22 percent within this category.

Within this group, those who contracted the virus after receiving the first dose was five out of 1,000, while those who contracted the virus after the second dose was three out of 1,000.

The total ratio totalled to four out of 1,000.

Wahadneh confirmed that the third update took place after the emergence of the Delta variant.

Delta infection rates are low in the Kingdom, he said, adding that according to the Ministry of Health, those who were infected with the Delta variant were not vaccinated or only received one dose of the vaccine.

He explained that, based on this, the available vaccines in Jordan are highly effective and have clearly and significantly contributed to a gradual decrease in the level of spread.

When comparing the four most available vaccines in Jordan, the differences did not bear an important statistical result regarding immunity, according to Wahadneh.