A examine revealed earlier this week in Nature Communications utilizing claims information from the US Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System finds safety from the 2024-25 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was 68%, 57%, and 56% towards COVID-19–related hospitalizations, emergency division and pressing care (ED/UC) visits, and outpatient visits, respectively.
Nevertheless, the authors warning that uptake of the vaccine was extraordinarily low—solely 3.7% via November 2024—and the examine didn’t assess waning effectiveness.
The examine estimated early BNT162b2 KP.2 (2024-25 formulation) vaccine effectiveness (VE) towards COVID-19 outcomes in comparison with not receiving the vaccine.
In complete, 44,598 acute respiratory sickness (ARI) encounters with legitimate SARS-CoV-2 take a look at outcomes have been included within the remaining evaluation. General, 16.2% (7,224) examined optimistic for SARS-CoV-2, and 1,666 (3.7%) obtained the BNT162b2 KP.2 vaccine; 138 of seven,224 COVID-19 sufferers (1.9%) and 1,528 of 37,374 controls (4.1%) obtained the vaccine.
General VE was 56% towards all outcomes
Adjusted VE of the BNT162b2 KP.2 vaccine (in comparison with not receiving a KP.2 strain-adapted vaccine of any sort) towards all COVID-19 outcomes was 56% (95% confidence interval [CI]48% to 63%).
Extra efforts to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake to match that of annual influenza vaccine protection are wanted.
Amongst sufferers who beforehand obtained a number of doses of the XBB vaccine, the adjusted VE of the KP.2 vaccine in comparison with not receiving the KP.2 vaccine was 77% (95% CI, 50% to 89%), 60% (95% CI, 48% to 69%), and 62% (95% CI, 43% to 75%) towards hospitalizations, ED/UC visits, and outpatient visits, respectively.
“Regardless of this persistent burden and the elevated safety noticed with receiving up to date vaccines over the past two respiratory virus seasons, uptake of up to date COVID-19 vaccines stays low, even amongst older adults,” the examine authors wrote. “Extra efforts to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake to match that of annual influenza vaccine protection are wanted.”
