Unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, research has found, bolstering evidence that the inoculations continue to provide powerful protection, even against the Delta variant.
According to NPR, the latest studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that vaccinated people were nearly five times less likely to get infected and 10 times less likely to get so sick they ended up in the hospital.
The CDC "looked at COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths in 13 states and offers further evidence of the power of vaccination”, said Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC. "As we have shown, study after study, vaccination works," she added.
However, the studies, which analysed data from 600,000 Americans between 4 April and 17 July, suggest that the effectiveness of the vaccines may have dropped as the Delta variant became dominant. One explanation could be waning immunity. A second is that the variant is better at evading the immune system. It also could be some combination of the two factors.
Another study examining data from nine states from June to August indicated that the Moderna vaccine may be the most effective of the three available in the United States, adds NPR.
The research found that across all ages, vaccine effectiveness was "significantly higher" among Moderna vaccine recipients — at 95% — than among Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients, with vaccine effectiveness of 80% and 60%, respectively.
Nearly 75% of eligible Americans aged 12 and older have had at least their first shot, and the CDC reported about 54% of the total population is fully vaccinated.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
J&J vaccine recipients may need boosters against Delta variant
CDC: Get the vaccination even if you have had COVID-19
Public Health England: No Delta variant deaths among vaccinated under-50s
CDC panel backs third Pfizer and Moderna shot for the immunocompromised