Israeli coronavirus vaccine booster data gives U.S. hope

What they’re saying: “The main takeaway message from Israel is there’s a short-term positive effect of boosts on both infection and severe disease,” said a senior Biden administration official, adding that the Israeli government recently briefed members of the president’s coronavirus team on their data.

“I never thought of vaccines as short-term. This changes that paradigm. Again, the jury is out, but Israel is making that case,” the official added.

Yes, but: Everyone getting a booster shot is, by definition, vaccinated. The U.S. doesn’t have good data on how many cases are occurring among vaccinated Americans, but most cases appear to be among unvaccinated people.

Without knowing what contribution the vaccinated are currently making to the spread of the virus or the U.S. caseload, it’s impossible to know how much each could be reduced by giving those people a booster shot.