Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — COVID-NET, 13 States, February–April 2021
Open accessAbstract
Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use in the United States (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) indicate that these vaccines have high efficacy against symptomatic disease, including moderate to severe illness (1-3). In addition to clinical trials, real-world assessments of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness are critical in guiding vaccine policy and building vaccine confidence, particularly among populations at higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults. To determine the real-world effectiveness of the three currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines among persons aged ≥65 years during February 1-April 30, 2021, data on 7,280 patients from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) were analyzed with vaccination coverage data from state immunization information systems (IISs) for the COVID-NET catchment area (approximately 4.8 million persons). Among adults aged 65-74 years, effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 94%-98%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 95%-98%) for Moderna, and 84% (95% CI = 64%-93%) for Janssen vaccine products. Effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥75 years was 91% (95% CI = 87%-94%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 93%-98%) for Moderna, and 85% (95% CI = 72%-92%) for Janssen vaccine products. COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States are highly effective in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in older adults. In light of real-world data demonstrating high effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among older adults, efforts to increase vaccination coverage in this age group are critical to reducing the risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization.
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Real-world studies performed a few months into COVID-19 vaccination campaigns showed high effectiveness of these vaccines.
“Real-world setting studies performed, few months into vaccination campaigns, showed high effectiveness of these vaccines [1-8].”
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References 7 · Cited by 161
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- [4]Farrington CP. Estimation of vaccine effectiveness using the screening method. Int J Epidemiol 1993; 22: 742– 6. 10.1093/ije/22.4.742 8225751 · DOI
- [5]Tenforde MW, Olson SM, Self WH,; IVY Network; HAIVEN Investigators. Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 among hospitalized adults aged ≥65 years—United States, January–March 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021; 70: 674– 9. 10.15585/mmwr.mm7018e1 33956782 PMC9368749 · DOI
- [6]Vasileiou E, Simpson CR, Shi T, Interim findings from first-dose mass COVID-19 vaccination roll-out and COVID-19 hospital admissions in Scotland: a national prospective cohort study. Lancet 2021; 397: 1646– 57. 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00677-2 33901420 PMC8064669 · DOI · Paper page
- Authors
- Moline, H. L., Whitaker, M., Deng, L., Rhodes, J. C., Milucky, J., Pham, H., Patel, K., Anglin, O., Reingold, A., Chai, S. J., Alden, N. B., Kawasaki, B., Meek, J., Yousey-Hindes, K., Anderson, E. J., Farley, M. M., Ryan, P. A., Kim, S., Nunez, V. T., Como-Sabetti, K., Lynfield, R., Sosin, D. M., McMullen, C., Muse, A., Barney, G., Bennett, N. M., Bushey, S., Shiltz, J., Sutton, M., Abdullah, N., Talbot, H. K., Schaffner, W., Chatelain, R., Ortega, J., Murthy, B. P., Zell, E., Schrag, S. J., Taylor, C., Shang, N., Verani, J. R., & Havers, F. P.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Moline, Heidi L.
- ORCID
- Moline, Heidi L.
- Whitaker, Michael
- Deng, Li
- Rhodes, Julia C.
- Milucky, Jennifer
- Pham, Huong
- Chai, Shua J.
- Alden, Nisha B.
- Kawasaki, Breanna
- Meek, James
- Yousey-Hindes, Kimberly
- Anderson, Evan J.
- Farley, Monica M.
- Ryan, Patricia A.
- Kim, Sue
- Nunez, Val Tellez
- Lynfield, Ruth
- Sosin, Daniel M.
- Bennett, Nancy M.
- Sutton, Melissa
- Talbot, H. Keipp
- Schaffner, William
- Schrag, Stephanie J.
- Taylor, Christopher
- Shang, Nong
- Verani, Jennifer R.
- Havers, Fiona P.
- Venue
- MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
- Published
- 2021-08-13
- Volume
- 70
- Issue
- 32
- Pages
- 1088-1093
- ISSN
- 0149-2195 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-861X
- PMC
- PMC8360274
- OpenAlex
- W3192611103
- Cited by
- 161
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 72 · 2021: 25
- FWCI
- 11.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Pfizer
- Sanofi
- New York State Department of Health
- Minnesota Department of Health
- Yale University
- Vanderbilt University
- Emory University
- University of Rochester
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Ohio Department of Health
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Georgia Department of Public Health
- Moderna
- National Institutes of Health (COVID-19)
- School of Medicine, Emory University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Social Sciences › Health › Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Modeling and Simulation › COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Keywords
- COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine effectiveness, older adults, BNT162b2, Moderna vaccine, Janssen vaccine, COVID-NET, immunization information systems, vaccination coverage, real-world effectiveness
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccines, mRNA Vaccines, Aged, Hospitalization, Humans, United States, Vaccines, Synthetic
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