Is immunity from vaccines waning?

Should we be worried that the protection against Covid-19 provided by the vaccines is going down? This worrying idea has been in the news recently, partly because of reports out of Israel. Last winter, Israel was one of the first to embark on a large scale vaccination programme of its citizens. But several months on, it’s now seen a sharp rise in the numbers of cases and hospitalisations.

Which does raise a worrying thought: is the vaccine’s effect fading?

(Israeli paramedics give a third shot of the Pfizer vaccine to ages 30 and above to battle surging infections. August 24 2021 Credit Ahmad Gharabli/Getty Images)