In a new study from Kaiser Permanente, researchers found high Moderna COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness up to five months after the second dose.
Effectiveness was 87% against COVID-19 infection, 96% against COVID-19 hospitalization, and 98% against COVID-19 death.
In the study, the team evaluated the 5-month effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine as part of a 5-year observational study within Kaiser Permanente.
The study included 352,878 recipients of two doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine matched to 352,878 unvaccinated individuals by age, sex, race, and ethnicity.
Vaccinated individuals received two doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from December 18, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Individuals in both groups were followed until June 30, 2021.
During follow-up, COVID-19 infections occurred among 289 vaccinated patients and 1,144 unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection was 87%.
COVID-19 hospitalization occurred among 13 vaccinated and 182 unvaccinated patients, and COVID-19 in-hospital deaths occurred among one vaccinated and 25 unvaccinated patients.
Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalization was 96%, and vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 in-hospital deaths was 98%.
Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection remained high across age, sex, racial, and ethnic subgroups, with results ranging from 83% to 92%.
Vaccine effectiveness was higher against symptomatic COVID-19 (88%) than asymptomatic COVID-19 (73%).
From March to June 2021, there were 5,619 SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens that were successfully sequenced.
The most prevalent variants were alpha (42%), epsilon (18%), delta (12%), and gamma (9%), with delta increasing to 54% of variants by June 2021.
This study adds to evidence of real-world Moderna COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, particularly among the general population.
Additionally, the follow-up on these fully vaccinated patients occurred through June 2021, a period that overlapped with the emergence of the delta variant in the United States.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines: Which elicits the strongest immune responses and findings that vaccines may not prevent severe COVID-19 in these people.
For more information about the pandemic, please see recent studies about green tea that may protect your body as a vaccine, and results showing that people getting Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may not need a booster.
The study is published in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas. One author of the study is Katia Bruxvoort, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
