Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — COVID-NET, 13 States, February–April 2021
Heidi L. Moline, Michael Whitaker, Li Deng, Julia Rhodes, Jennifer Milucky, Huong Pham, Kadam Patel, Onika Anglin, Arthur Reingold, Shua J. Chai, Nisha B. Alden, Breanna Kawasaki, James Meek, Kimberly Yousey‐Hindes, Evan J. Anderson, Monica M. Farley, Patricia Ryan, Sue Kim, Val Tellez Nunez, Kathryn Como‐Sabetti, Ruth Lynfield, Daniel M. Sosin, Chelsea McMullen, Alison Muse, Grant Barney, Nancy M. Bennett, Sophrena Bushey, Jessica Shiltz, Melissa Sutton, Nasreen Abdullah, H. Keipp Talbot, William Schaffner, Ryan Chatelain, Jake Ortega, Bhavini Patel Murthy, Elizabeth R. Zell, Stephanie J. Schrag, Christopher A. Taylor, Nong Shang, Jennifer R. Verani, Fiona P. Havers
Abstract
Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use in the United States (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) indicate that these vaccines have high efficacy against symptomatic disease, including moderate to severe illness (1-3). In addition to clinical trials, real-world assessments of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness are critical in guiding vaccine policy and building vaccine confidence, particularly among populations at higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults. To determine the real-world effectiveness of the three currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines among persons aged ≥65 years during February 1-April 30, 2021, data on 7,280 patients from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) were analyzed with vaccination coverage data from state immunization information systems (IISs) for the COVID-NET catchment area (approximately 4.8 million persons). Among adults aged 65-74 years, effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 94%-98%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 95%-98%) for Moderna, and 84% (95% CI = 64%-93%) for Janssen vaccine products. Effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥75 years was 91% (95% CI = 87%-94%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 93%-98%) for Moderna, and 85% (95% CI = 72%-92%) for Janssen vaccine products. COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States are highly effective in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in older adults. In light of real-world data demonstrating high effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among older adults, efforts to increase vaccination coverage in this age group are critical to reducing the risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization.