What’s the evidence for COVID-19 booster shots? As of Aug. 15, Israel reported 514 hospitalizations for severe or critical COVID-19 — up 31% from four days earlier — and nearly three in five of those patients were fully vaccinated. That country is now offering boosters to people over 50. One study of residents at nearly 15 000 long-term care facilities found that the protection against infection offered by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines dropped from 74% in the spring to 53% this summer. A New York state study that also included people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine likewise reported a drop in protection against lab-confirmed infection from 92% in early May to 80% in late July. However, effectiveness against COVID-19 requiring hospitalization held steady at about 95%. Meanwhile, a preprint Mayo Clinic analysis of more than 80 000 Americans found the Pfizer vaccine was only 42% effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection in July, while Moderna’s was 76% effective. Even so, protection against hospitalization remained high at 75% and 81%, respectively. These findings indicate that COVID-19 vaccines are still doing an excellent job keeping fully immunized people out of hospital, even if larger numbers are testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (many of whom may have no symptoms).
Booster shots: what is the evidence?
Booster shots: what is the evidence?
Booster shots: what is the evidence?
What’s the evidence for COVID-19 booster shots? As of Aug. 15, Israel reported 514 hospitalizations for severe or critical COVID-19 — up 31% from four days earlier — and nearly three in five of those patients were fully vaccinated. That country is now offering boosters to people over 50. One study of residents at nearly 15 000 long-term care facilities found that the protection against infection offered by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines dropped from 74% in the spring to 53% this summer. A New York state study that also included people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine likewise reported a drop in protection against lab-confirmed infection from 92% in early May to 80% in late July. However, effectiveness against COVID-19 requiring hospitalization held steady at about 95%. Meanwhile, a preprint Mayo Clinic analysis of more than 80 000 Americans found the Pfizer vaccine was only 42% effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection in July, while Moderna’s was 76% effective. Even so, protection against hospitalization remained high at 75% and 81%, respectively. These findings indicate that COVID-19 vaccines are still doing an excellent job keeping fully immunized people out of hospital, even if larger numbers are testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (many of whom may have no symptoms).