COVID-19 vaccines and Epidemic Trends of COVID- 19 in Palestine Running title: COVID- 19 trends in Palestine

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is rapidly spreading globally due to high transmissibility and pathogenicity. Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine the growth rate and CFR of COVID-19 in Palestine, as well as to compare them in the pre and post-vaccination periods. Methods: A retrospective analytical design was used. The data of daily confirmed cases and daily deaths were taken from the Worldometer statistics, WHO websites, and MOH report for the two politically split regions of Palestine, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. The data was gathered to include one hundred days before initiating vaccination against the disease, beginning on December 7, 2020, and ending on June 25, 2021. The growth rate and case fatality rate were calculated using related formulas and the Microsoft Excel program was used to analyze the data. Results: During the study period, there were 217386 cases of COVID-19 and 2772 deaths in Gaza and the west bank. The high growth rate was found in two months December 2020 (38.3%), and March 2021 (30.8%), and was declined in May and June 2021. The case fatality rate, on the other hand, fluctuated throughout the research period. During the study period, the number of patients with COVID-19 and the number of deaths from this disease is decreasing in Palestine. Conclusion: The intervention measures in Palestine seem to be effective in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic and reducing the reproduction rate in the study period. Continuous preventive measures and vaccination for the population are recommended.