Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines in Ambulatory and Inpatient Care Settings
Authors: Mark G Thompson, Edward Stenehjem, Shaun Grannis, Sarah W Ball, Allison L Naleway, Toan C Ong, Malini B DeSilva, Karthik Natarajan, Catherine H Bozio, Ned Lewis, Kristin Dascomb, Brian E Dixon, Rebecca J Birch, Stephanie A Irving, Suchitra Rao, Elyse Kharbanda, Jungmi Han, Sue Reynolds, Kristin Goddard, Nancy Grisel, William F Fadel, Matthew E Levy, Jill Ferdinands, Bruce Fireman, Julie Arndorfer, Nimish R Valvi, Elizabeth A Rowley, Palak Patel, Ousseny Zerbo, Eric P Griggs, Rachael M Porter, Maria Demarco, Lenee Blanton, Andrea Steffens, Yan Zhuang, Natalie Olson, Michelle Barron, Patricia Shifflett, Stephanie J Schrag, Jennifer R Verani, Alicia Fry, Manjusha Gaglani, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, Nicola P Klein
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2021)

BackgroundThere are limited data on the effectiveness of the vaccines against symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) currently authorized in the United States with respect to hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), or ambulatory care in an emergency department or urgent care clinic.MethodsWe conducted a study involving adults (≥50 years of age) with Covid-19–like illness who underwent molecular testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We assessed 41,552 admissions to 187 hospitals and 21,522 visits to 221 emergency departments or urgent care clinics during the period from January 1 through June 22, 2021, in multiple states. The patients' vaccination status was documented in electronic health records and immunization registries. We used a test-negative design to estimate vaccine effectiveness by comparing the odds of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection among vaccinated patients with those among unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness was adjusted with weights based on propensity-for-vaccination scores and according to age, geographic region, calendar time (days from January 1, 2021, to the index date for each medical visit), and local virus circulation.Download a PDF of the Research Summary.ResultsThe effectiveness of full messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination (≥14 days after the second dose) was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87 to 91) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization, 90% (95% CI, 86 to 93) against infection leading to an ICU admission, and 91% (95% CI, 89 to 93) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. The effectiveness of full vaccination with respect to a Covid-19–associated hospitalization or emergency department or urgent care clinic visit was similar with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines and ranged from 81% to 95% among adults 85 years of age or older, persons with chronic medical conditions, and Black or Hispanic adults. The effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine was 68% (95% CI, 50 to 79) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to hospitalization and 73% (95% CI, 59 to 82) against infection leading to an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit.ConclusionsCovid-19 vaccines in the United States were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or an emergency department or urgent care clinic visit. This vaccine effectiveness extended to populations that are disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. (Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) Quick Take Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against Severe Disease 1m 52s