Effectiveness of XBB.1.5 Monovalent COVID‐19 Vaccines During a Period of XBB.1.5 Dominance in EU/EEA Countries, October to November 2023: A VEBIS‐EHR Network Study
Susana Monge, James Humphreys, Nathalie Nicolay, Toon Braeye, Izaak Van Evercooren, Christian Holm Hansen, Hanne‐Dorthe Emborg, Chiara Sacco, Alberto Mateo‐Urdiales, Jesús Castilla, Iván Martínez‐Baz, Brechje de Gier, Susan Hahné, Hinta Meijerink, Anja Bråthen Kristoffersen, Ausenda Machado, Patrícia Soares, Anthony Nardone, Sabrina Bacci, Esther Kissling, Baltazar Nunes, VEBIS‐EHR Working Group
Abstract
Using a common protocol across seven countries in the European Union/European Economic Area, we estimated XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 hospitalisation and death in booster-eligible ≥ 65-year-olds, during October-November 2023. We linked electronic records to construct retrospective cohorts and used Cox models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and derive VE. VE for COVID-19 hospitalisation and death was, respectively, 67% (95%CI: 58-74) and 67% (95%CI: 42-81) in 65- to 79-year-olds and 66% (95%CI: 57-73) and 72% (95%CI: 51-85) in ≥ 80-year-olds. Results indicate that periodic vaccination of individuals ≥ 65 years has an ongoing benefit and support current vaccination strategies in the EU/EEA.