A new study suggests mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna both stop hospitalizations from COVID-19 in most cases.
Do Pfizer and Moderna vaccines stop hospitalizations?
The study — which was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — found the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were 94% effective in stopping hospitalizations in people 65 years old and up.
- The study found just one shot of those two-dose vaccines was 64% effective in stopping hospitalizations among the same age group.
The study used real-world data to measure how the vaccines impacted hospitalizations. Specifically, the study reviewed 417 hospitalized adults from 14 different states from January to March.
- “This multisite U.S. evaluation under real-world conditions suggests that vaccination provided protection against COVID-19–associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥65 years,” according to the CDC. “Vaccination is a critical tool for reducing severe COVID-19 in groups at high risk.”
Real-world data vs. clinical trials
The study aligns with what the CDC expected based on clinical trial data, showing the COVID-19 vaccine is having success in the real world, according to The Washington Post.
- “While not surprising, the results are reassuring because they provide the first real-world evidence in the United States that both vaccines prevent severe COVID-19 illness, as they did in clinical trials,” The Washington Post reports.
Health officials, like CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said this is promising news for the future of the vaccine and the pandemic.
- “The results are promising for our communities and hospitals,” she said, according to CNBC. “As our vaccination efforts continue to expand, COVID-19 patients will not overwhelm health care systems — leaving hospital staff, beds, and services available for people who need them for other medical conditions.”