Skip to main content

Master of Public Health

Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines Against COVID-19 Among Hospitalized Adults Aged ≥65 Years - United States, January-March 2021

AUTHORS

Tenforde MW , Olson SM , Self WH , Talbot HK , Lindsell CJ , Steingrub JS , Shapiro NI , Ginde AA , Douin DJ , Prekker ME , Brown SM , Peltan ID , Gong MN , Mohamed A , Khan A , Exline MC , Files DC , Gibbs KW , Stubblefield WB , Casey JD , Rice TW , Grijalva CG , Hager DN , Shehu A , Qadir N , Chang SY , Wilson JG , Gaglani M , Murthy K , Calhoun N , Monto AS , Martin ET , Malani A , Zimmerman RK , Silveira FP , Middleton DB , Zhu Y , Wyatt D , Stephenson M , Baughman A , Womack KN , Hart KW , Kobayashi M , Verani JR , Patel MM , , , . MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 2021 5 7; 70(18). 674-679

ABSTRACT

Adults aged ≥65 years are at increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 and were identified as a priority group to receive the first COVID-19 vaccines approved for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the United States (1-3). In an evaluation at 24 hospitals in 14 states,* the effectiveness of partial or full vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines against COVID-19-associated hospitalization was assessed among adults aged ≥65 years. Among 417 hospitalized adults aged ≥65 years (including 187 case-patients and 230 controls), the median age was 73 years, 48% were female, 73% were non-Hispanic White, 17% were non-Hispanic Black, 6% were Hispanic, and 4% lived in a long-term care facility. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19-associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥65 years was estimated to be 94% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 49%-99%) for full vaccination and 64% (95% CI = 28%-82%) for partial vaccination. These findings are consistent with efficacy determined from clinical trials in the subgroup of adults aged ≥65 years (4,5). This multisite U.S. evaluation under real-world conditions suggests that vaccination provided protection against COVID-19-associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥65 years. Vaccination is a critical tool for reducing severe COVID-19 in groups at high risk.

Tags: ,