Reports and Proceedings from Regenstrief Institute
September 10, 2021 -- INDIANAPOLIS
-- COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalizations and
emergency department visits caused by the Delta variant, according to data
from a national study. That data also indicate
that Moderna’s vaccine is significantly more effective against
Delta than Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
“These real-world data show that
vaccines remain highly effective at reducing COVID-19 related hospitalizations
and emergency department visits, even in the presence of the new COVID-19
variant,” said study author Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., Regenstrief Institute
vice president for data and analytics and professor of medicine at Indiana
University School of Medicine. “We strongly recommend vaccinations for all who
are eligible to reduce serious illness and ease the burden on our healthcare
system.”
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)’s VISION Network analyzed more than 32,000 medical encounters
from nine states during June, July and August 2021,
when the Delta variant became the predominant strain. The
results showed that unvaccinated individuals with COVID-19 are 5-7 times more
likely to need emergency department care or hospitalization, similar to the
overall effectiveness prior to the variant.
The study in Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report is also the first analysis from the
VISION Network to show a marked difference between the effectiveness of the
mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer). In the study’s time period:
- Moderna was
95 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults ages
18 and older.
- Pfizer
was 80 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults
ages 18 and older.
- Johnson
& Johnson was 60 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations
among adults ages 18 and older.
The study also found that vaccine
effectiveness is lower for people 75 years and older, which has not been shown
in previous research. This could be due to a range of factors, including the
increased time since vaccination.
When it came to preventing emergency
department and urgent care visits, analysis showed that:
- Moderna
was 92 percent effective.
- Pfizer
was 77 percent effective.
- Johnson
& Johnson was 65 percent effective.
Scientists say these findings need
further monitoring and evaluation.
“Despite the differences in
effectiveness, vaccines continue to offer much more protection than not getting
one at all,” said Dr. Grannis. “While breakthrough cases do happen, data
shows the symptoms are less severe. The vast majority of COVID
hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among unvaccinated individuals.
COVID-19 vaccines are powerful tools for combating the pandemic.”
The VISION network, funded by the CDC,
includes seven organizations that contribute and analyze
data from U.S. healthcare systems to learn more about the COVID-19
vaccine effectiveness. In addition to Regenstrief Institute, other members are
Columbia University Irving Medical Center, HealthPartners, Intermountain
Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Northwest
and University of Colorado.
“Interim Estimates of COVID-19 Vaccine
Effectiveness Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department or Urgent Care
Clinic Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults During SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2
(Delta) Variant Predominance — Nine States, June–August
2021” is published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report. In addition to Dr. Grannis, other authors on the paper are
Elizabeth A. Rowley, DrPH, M.S. of IU School of Medicine; Toan C.
Ong, PhD of Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Edward Stenehjem, M.D.,
MSc of InterMountain Healthcare; Nicola P. Klein, M.D.,
PhD of Columbia University; Malini DeSilva, M.D. of HealthPartners;
Allison Naleway, PhD of Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Karthik Natarajan,
PhD of Columbia University and Mark G. Thompson of the CDC COVID-19 Response
Team.
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