Both Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be 94% effective at preventing hospitalization in fully vaccinated people 65 and older, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These findings are very closely in line with the results of both companies’ clinical trials, and the first real-world data from the U.S. to show that the vaccines are highly effective at preventing people from getting severely sick from COVID-19.
The study also found that the first dose was 64% effective at preventing older people from getting very sick.
“These data suggest that continuing to rapidly vaccinate U.S. adults against COVID-19 will likely have a marked impact on COVID-19 hospitalization and might lead to commensurate reductions in post-COVID conditions and deaths,” the researchers wrote.
The study looked at 187 people who were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive for the virus. Of those people, only 18 were partially vaccinated and just one was fully vaccinated.
“These findings are encouraging and welcome news for the two-thirds of people aged 65 and up who are already fully vaccinated,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky in a statement.
“COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and these real-world findings confirm the benefits seen in clinical trials, preventing hospitalizations among those most vulnerable.”
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