By GLEN OWEN AND BRENDAN CARLIN FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY 22:21 23 Jan 2021, updated 00:55 24 Jan 2021 * NEWSPAPER CLAIMED ONLY A THIRD OF PEOPLE WHO'VE HAD ONE JAB WERE PROTECTED * NO

10'S ADVISERS SAY THE REAL FIGURE IS 89%, STARTING 14 DAYS AFTER FIRST INJECTION * CONTROVERSIAL REPORT QUOTED ISRAELI COVID COMMISSIONER PROFESSOR NACHMAN ASH Boris Johnson's

medical chief was so infuriated by a newspaper story which claimed that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine might only be 33 per cent effective that he threatened to report it to a press

watchdog, The Mail on Sunday understands. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty – normally one of the more mild-mannered figures at No 10 press conferences – told colleagues The Guardian's

shot of the Pfizer vaccine had led to a 'major presence' of antibodies in 91 per cent of doctors and nurses who received it in Israel within 21 days. A source said: 'It is not

every day that a member of the liberal academic establishment is angered by The Guardian.' No 10's options were limited, however, because the newspaper has not signed up to the

Independent Press Standards Organisation, which regulates newspapers and sanctions them for inaccuracies. The report quoted Israeli Covid commissioner Professor Nachman Ash as saying that a

single dose of Pfizer appeared 'less effective than we had thought', once cases of asymptomatic infection were included, although those who had received their second dose had a

six- to 12-fold increase in antibodies. Later in the week, the paper reported that Israel's health ministry had 'moved to row back on comments' by Professor Ash's

suggestion that single doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine had not given as much protection against the disease as had been hoped. It quoted the Israeli Ministry of Health as saying that

the 'full protective impact of the vaccine' had not yet been seen. The Guardian said last night that it had reported both Professor Ash's 'initial comments' and

subsequent comments from Israel's health ministry: 'The Guardian's independent readers' editor has not received any complaints about either article.' FREEDOM DAY

BECKONS: HOW BRITAIN HAS ACHIEVED EUROPE'S BEST VACCINE ROLLOUT AS IT AIMS TO GIVE JABS TO THE 15MILLION MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE BY FEBRUARY 15  Britain's vaccine rollout has been a

huge success – with a record number of first doses (478,248) administered in a day, on Friday. This means the cumulative total across the UK is 5,861,351 (8.8 per cent of the total

population). The achievement, the best in Europe, is due to a combination of the NHS's well-established system for giving jabs such as against flu or MMR, and the Government's

foresight in placing advance orders for 357million doses from seven different manufacturers. Phase one of the strategy – inoculating the 15million most vulnerable – has a target completion

for February 15. Experts believe this is when it may be safe to start to ease lockdown restrictions. 15 MILLION JABS BY FEBRUARY 15 ON TRACK TO SHIELD MOST VULNERABLE Home-visit vaccinations

are now being given to people unable to travel – in addition to all those arranged at 1,220 GP surgeries, hospitals and special centres. A nationwide team of 80,000 is giving the jabs with

200,000 volunteers offering to help out.  JABS DONE AT PEAKY BLINDERS FILM SET  Among 30 new vaccine centres opening tomorrow will be the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, where the BBC

drama Peaky Blinders was filmed. Other new sites include a former Ikea superstore in Stratford, East London; Winter Gardens Blackpool; Bath Racecourse and Debenhams in Folkestone, Kent. THE

BIG FIGHTBACK BEGAN A MONTH AGO  A ray of light in the Covid darkness appeared on December 8 when the first doses of vaccine were distributed. The swift work of scientists – led in part by

Britons – to find a way to defeat the virus had paid off. Undaunted by the immense task of inoculating 30million people twice, NHS staff began to put us on the path out of the series of

lockdowns VACCINE REFUSENIKS WHO COULD SABOTAGE WORLD PROGRAMME Britons, according to surveys, are much more likely to agree to a jab than people in other countries. In France, anti-vaccine

sentiment is one of the world’s highest – with a third of respondents not believing vaccines are safe. This has been compounded by the ineptness of officials, which meant that France had

inoculated only 352 people by January 4 compared with more than a million in both the UK and Israel. A report by the Edelman Trust Barometer has suggested that 66 per cent of Britons are

happy to be vaccinated. Other figures: Italy 65 per cent willing, Germany 62, United States 59, Spain 58, Japan 54, France 52 and Russia 40.   PROOF THE PFIZER COVID VACCINE WORKS IN THE

REAL WORLD? ISRAELI HEALTHCARE GROUP SAYS CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS HAVE PLUNGED BY AT LEAST 60% AMONG VACCINATED OVER-60S By Harry Howard for MailOnline  An Israeli healthcare group on Friday

said coronavirus infections had plunged among people aged over 60 who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer Biontech vaccine.  Israel is currently leading the global vaccination drive, with

around 30 per cent of its citizens having had at least a single dose of a jab so far. But concern had risen globally over infection, death and hospitalisation rates in the country, which

remained stubbornly high. Out of 82,930 active cases on Thursday, 1,918 were hospitalized. Last week, the hospitalisation figure was just over 1,000.   Officials had hoped that the vaccine

drive - which began on December 19 - would start to show an effect by mid-February. But KSM Maccabi Research and Innovation Center claimed on Friday there had been a 'significant

decrease' in the number of coronavirus infections among people aged over 60 who were vaccinated between December 19 and 24. After analysing data of more than 50,000 patients aged over

60, they also found that hospitalisations in the same group had plunged by more than 60 per cent.   Israel secured access to large amounts of Pfizer's jab by agreeing to provide data

about its citizens for the company to track how well the jab works. The new figures are a sign of hope that nationwide infections, deaths and hospitalisations could soon start to see a

sustained fall.  It came amid reports that England's chief medical officer was so infuriated by a newspaper story which claimed that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine might only be 33

per cent effective that he threatened to report it to a press watchdog.  Chris Whitty told colleagues The Guardian's report was 'total nonsense' which could threaten the

uptake of the jab.  KSM Maccabi Research and Innovation Center's report was based on data 50,777 members of Maccabi who were aged over 60 and were vaccinated 23 days ago.  KSM, which is

part of Israeli healthcare provider Maccabi, noted that there was a 'significant decrease within the vaccinated members aged 60+', reaching a decrease of around 60 per cent in new

infections.  They added that there was also a 'decrease of slightly more than 60 per cent in the number of new hospitalised patients.'  However, KSM cautioned that 'on this

level of efficiency, there should be no exemption from performing Corona tests, isolation, or the enablement of crowded gatherings, until additional convincing data is obtained.  'And

of course continue to wear masks and keep social distancing, as recommended'. In their story about the effectiveness of a single dose of the Pfizer jab, The Guardian had quoted

'Israeli experts' as saying only a third of people who have received one injection were protected. No 10's vaccine advisers say the real figure is 89 per cent, starting 14

days after the first jab. It was reported yesterday that a single shot of the Pfizer vaccine had led to a 'major presence' of antibodies in 91 per cent of doctors and nurses who

received it in Israel within 21 days. A source told the Mail On Sunday: 'It is not every day that a member of the liberal academic establishment is angered by The Guardian.' On

Friday, Israel announced a further 6,159 new cases, an 18 per cent increase on the figure of 5,235 announced seven days ago, but down from Wednesdays and Thursdays totals, of 10,213 and

7,027 respectively.  Since the rollout of vaccinations one month ago, more than 2.5 million of Israel's nine-million-strong population have been vaccinated already, the health ministry

said on Friday. It came as the Israeli health ministry on Thursday announced it was allowing the inoculation of high school students aged 16-18, subject to parental approval.  The health

ministry had on Thursday announced it was allowing the inoculation of high school students aged 16-18, subject to parental approval. Expanding the campaign to include teens came days after

Israel extended on Tuesday till the end of the month its third national coronavirus lockdown due to a surge in coronavirus infections despite the vaccinations.    The country's largest

health fund, Clalit, was already giving teens shots as of Saturday morning, its website said, while the three smaller funds were due to kick off their campaign later. Israel began

administering vaccines on December 20, beginning with health professionals and quickly proceeding to the elderly, sick and at-risk groups, continuously lowering the minimum age of those

entitled to the shot. From Saturday, people aged 40 and up are also allowed to get the vaccine. Israeli prime minister Bejamin Netanyahu previously bragged that the Pfizer vaccine is being

supplied in such large quantities because of 17 telephone conversations he conducted with Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer. RELATED ARTICLES According to the health ministry, as of Friday

nearly 2.5million people had received the first of two doses, with 900,000 of them getting the second as well. Israel has given 38.8 per 100 people in the country at least one dose of the

vaccine, well ahead of other countries, with some people already receiving the second. In comparison, the UK has administered 8.9 first doses per 100 people, the US has given 5.8, with

France giving just 1.4. The country secured a huge stock of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and has pledged to share the impact data quickly with the US-German manufacturer. On Thursday, the

estimated COVID-19 reproduction number in Israel dipped below 1 for the first time since the country launched its vaccination campaign, the government announced. An 'R' number

above 1 indicates infections will grow at an exponential rate, while below 1 points to their eventual halt. RELATED ARTICLES Israel's 'R' number hit 1.3 on Dec. 11. It began

vaccinating citizens the following week. With contagion surging, on Dec. 27 it imposed a third national lockdown - which is still in effect. 'Are we seeing the light? We see a chink in

the blinds,' Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch told Channel 13 TV after Israel logged an 'R' number of 0.99. 'We have achieved a halt, but we have achieved a halt at high

levels of morbidity.' He credited the lockdown and the vaccines - now administered to more than a quarter of Israel's 9 million population - but added that vaccines had

'mainly reduced serious morbidity, not necessarily the number of carriers'. The reduction would have been more significant were it not for the presence of the especially contagious

British variant of the coronavirus, Kisch said.    On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the swift vaccination campaign 'will afford us the possibility of overcoming the

coronavirus, of emerging from it, of opening the economy and getting life back to routine'.  But while Israel is currently leading the global vaccination drive infection and death

rates, as well as the numbers of people in hospital, have shown little sign of falling. Wednesday saw the country recorded its highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in a single day,

with 10,213 cases and 101 deaths - the first time Israel has seen over both 10,000 cases and 100 deaths since the start of the pandemic.  On Thursday, out of 82,930 active cases, 1,918 were

hospitalized. Last week, the hospitalisation figure was just over 1,000.  On Friday, the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it was too early too draw conclusions

from Israel's vaccination drive after alarm that hospitalisations have not yet dropped.  Addressing the apparent failure of the jab regime in cutting infection rates, Israel's top

coronavirus medic said on Wednesday that the Pfizer vaccine was less effective than expected.  Real-world data from Israel's world-beating rollout showed the first dose led to a 33 per

cent reduction in cases of coronavirus between 14 and 21 days afterwards in people who got the jab.  The figure is lower than the British regulator's estimate, which said it may prevent

89 per cent of recipients from getting Covid-19 symptoms.   But Sir Patrick, the UK's chief scientific adviser, told the Downing Street press conference on Friday that the Israeli data

was 'very preliminary'. He said: 'In terms of the Israeli data, I think that was information from one of the organisations that organises health in Israel, I think there are

four, and it was preliminary data that came out on the numbers. 'I think the Israeli health ministry has said they're not entirely sure those are the final data and they're

expecting the effects to increase so I think it's very preliminary. 'These are preliminary information from a subset of people, they haven't followed people for long enough. 

'We had a discussion with the Israeli advisers yesterday and they are expecting to get more information over the next few weeks. 'And I think we are going to have to monitor this

very carefully, we're going to have to keep looking at data and understanding the performance of vaccines in the real world.' Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19

response in Israel, had told local media Army Radio earlier this week: 'Many people have been infected between the first and second injections of the vaccine.'  It can take 10

days or more for the immunity to kick in.      CHRIS WHITTY'S FURY AT GUARDIAN FOR 'TOTAL NONSENSE' CLAIM PFIZER VACCINE MIGHT ONLY BE 33% EFFECTIVE AMID FEARS IT COULD

THREATEN JAB UPTAKE By Glen Owen and Brendan Carlin for the Mail on Sunday  Boris Johnson's medical chief was so infuriated by a newspaper story which claimed that a single dose of the 

Pfizer vaccine might only be 33 per cent effective that he threatened to report it to a press watchdog, The Mail on Sunday understands. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty – normally one of

the more mild-mannered figures at No 10 press conferences – told colleagues The Guardian's report was 'total nonsense' which could threaten the uptake of the jab. The

newspaper quoted 'Israeli experts' as saying only a third of people who have received one injection were protected. No 10's vaccine advisers say the real figure is 89 per

cent, starting 14 days after the first jab. RELATED ARTICLES It was reported yesterday that a single shot of the Pfizer vaccine had led to a 'major presence' of antibodies in 91

per cent of doctors and nurses who received it in Israel within 21 days. A source said: 'It is not every day that a member of the liberal academic establishment is angered by The

Guardian.' No 10's options were limited, however, because the newspaper has not signed up to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which regulates newspapers and sanctions

them for inaccuracies. The report quoted Israeli Covid commissioner Professor Nachman Ash as saying that a single dose of Pfizer appeared 'less effective than we had thought', once

cases of asymptomatic infection were included, although those who had received their second dose had a six- to 12-fold increase in antibodies. Later in the week, the paper reported that

Israel's health ministry had 'moved to row back on comments' by Professor Ash's suggestion that single doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine had not given as much

protection against the disease as had been hoped. It quoted the Israeli Ministry of Health as saying that the 'full protective impact of the vaccine' had not yet been seen. The

Guardian said last night that it had reported both Professor Ash's 'initial comments' and subsequent comments from Israel's health ministry: 'The Guardian's

independent readers' editor has not received any complaints about either article.'