The recently updated COVID vaccines have shown promising results in protecting against serious virus-related outcomes in immunocompetent adults, based on data from the CDC’s IVY and VISION networks. However, despite the effectiveness of these vaccines, the uptake has been relatively low. The CDC’s data revealed that only 22% of U.S. adults have received the latest vaccines, with slightly higher rates of 42% among adults aged 65 and over. This low uptake poses a significant challenge in achieving widespread protection against COVID-19-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
The study included data from 369 emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and 229 hospitals across eight states in the VISION network and 26 hospitals in 20 states in the IVY network. The analysis focused on the effectiveness of the updated vaccines against COVID-related emergency department or urgent care encounters and hospitalizations. The results indicated that vaccine effectiveness (VE) against emergency department or urgent care encounters was 47%, with protection against hospitalizations ranging from 43% to 52%. These findings demonstrate the importance of updated vaccination, particularly among individuals who have previously received original COVID-19 vaccines or have never been vaccinated.
The analysis also revealed variations in vaccine effectiveness based on age groups. Adults aged 18-64 showed slightly higher protection against emergency department and urgent care visits compared to those aged 65 and older. Similarly, VE against COVID-related hospitalizations was higher in the first 7-59 days after vaccination than after 60-119 days. Interestingly, individuals aged 65 and older exhibited higher VE against hospitalizations compared to younger adults. These age-related differences highlight the importance of targeted vaccination strategies to protect older individuals who are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The study noted that despite differences in populations, methods, and outcomes, the estimates of updated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness were consistent across the VISION and IVY analyses. The alignment of results from these two networks provides further evidence of the protective benefits of the updated vaccines in preventing serious virus-related outcomes. The data also highlighted the prevalence of the JN.1 variant, which accounted for nearly two-thirds of circulating lineages in the U.S. by early January.
The data from the CDC’s IVY and VISION networks underscore the importance of updated COVID vaccination in reducing the risk of severe virus-related outcomes. Despite the challenges posed by low vaccine uptake, the effectiveness of the updated vaccines in preventing hospitalizations and emergency department visits highlights the need for continued efforts to promote vaccination among all eligible individuals. Targeted vaccination strategies, particularly for older adults, can help enhance protection and reduce the burden of COVID-19 on healthcare systems.
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