All articles tagged with #vaccine effectiveness
OutKick criticizes a Commonwealth Fund analysis that claimed COVID vaccines prevented 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths in the U.S., arguing the modeling uses biased inputs and unrealistic assumptions. The piece says infection-fatality rates and real-world data don’t support such dramatic avoidance of cases and deaths, and accuses researchers of tailoring results to fit a desired outcome.
U.S. health officials halted publication and later canceled a study on whether the Covid-19 vaccine prevents hospitalizations and ER visits, citing concerns about the methodology used to estimate vaccine effectiveness; the authors reportedly did not want to adjust their approach, prompting debate about how to measure real-time vaccine impact and potential biases from prior infection and care-seeking behavior.
A CDC-led study indicating Covid-19 vaccines roughly halved the chances of hospitalization or ER visits was blocked from publication in the MMWR after concerns from HHS leadership; officials cited methodological worries about the test-negative design, prompting scrutiny from experts who say it’s a standard approach. The episode, tied to broader vaccine-policy changes under HHS Secretary Kennedy, has fueled debate over political influence in CDC science.
The CDC’s acting director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, reportedly delayed the release of an MMWR study showing Covid vaccines reduce severe illness, citing concerns about the observational method; the paper, based on a test‑negative design, was expected to indicate about a 50% reduction in severe outcomes among adults with the 2025‑26 vaccine formulation. Officials say leadership routinely reviews papers for methodological issues, while critics within and around the Trump administration have framed vaccine research debates as political interference. If the MMWR paper isn’t published, the authors could submit the findings to a medical journal after further analysis.
The acting CDC director delayed publication of a report showing the COVID-19 vaccine reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations for healthy adults last winter by about half, citing concerns with the methodology. The move, while the design has long been used to test vaccine effectiveness, has drawn criticism that vaccine benefits may be downplayed and was reported by scientists who spoke on condition of anonymity.
CDC data show this season’s flu vaccine was about 25%–30% effective at preventing illness requiring medical care for adults and roughly 40% for vaccinated children, due mainly to a newly dominant H3N2 subclade not well matched by the vaccine. An estimated 27 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths have occurred; adult vaccination is about 46.5% and around 48% of kids have been vaccinated. Vaccination remains worthwhile to reduce severe illness, and next season’s vaccines will be updated to address the subclade.
Getting COVID and flu vaccines in the same arm or different arms is a matter of personal preference, with recent studies suggesting no significant difference in effectiveness or antibody response; convenience and comfort are key considerations.
Rochelle Walensky emphasizes that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective in children, significantly reducing severe disease, hospitalization, and MIS-C, with ongoing data supporting vaccination across all pediatric age groups to prevent COVID-19-related deaths and complications.
President Trump questioned the effectiveness and transparency of Covid-19 vaccines developed during his administration, criticizing the CDC and demanding public disclosure of data, amid ongoing debates over vaccine policy and recent leadership changes at the CDC.
Scientists are closely monitoring the continuing evolution of the coronavirus and the body's immune responses in order to anticipate and prevent a potential resurgence, as well as to gain a better understanding of long Covid. Research efforts include studying how the virus behaves and evolves as populations build immunity, investigating the body's response to the infection, and estimating vaccine effectiveness in the midst of evolving respiratory conditions.
The CDC is recommending that adults aged 65 and older receive an additional dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to address the increased risk of severe disease in this age group. This recommendation follows previous guidance for immunocompromised individuals and aims to restore waning protection and provide increased protection for older adults, who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The CDC emphasizes the importance of vaccination for this age group and continues to monitor vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The CDC has reported that this season's flu vaccines have been 42% effective, offering better protection than in some recent years. The vaccines were found to be between 52% and 61% effective in children and 41% to 44% effective in adults. However, declining vaccination rates could still lead to fewer hospitalizations and deaths prevented by vaccines. The effectiveness against influenza B infections was notably high, with the CDC recommending people to get vaccinated as significant flu activity can last until May. Additionally, the FDA is set to vote on a major change to next season's influenza vaccines, potentially transitioning from quadrivalent to trivalent formulations.
The CDC recommended that people 65 and older receive a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine due to their higher risk for severe illness. The recommendation aims to provide added protection, especially as hospitalization rates for older adults remain high. While there are concerns about potential drawbacks, such as decreased public confidence and vaccine fatigue, the CDC emphasizes that updated vaccines continue to be effective against different circulating variants.
Early estimates indicate that flu shots in the US are around 40% effective in preventing adults from severe flu illness, with children being roughly 60% less likely to require treatment. Annual flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older, and about half of eligible kids and adults received flu shots in the last several months. The effectiveness of the shots is influenced by the match against circulating flu strains, and some concerns have been raised about potential diminishing returns for annual influenza immunization.
A study from Oregon Health and Science University suggests that receiving COVID-19 vaccine doses in different arms may lead to a substantially stronger immune response compared to receiving both doses in the same arm. The research found that participants who received "contralateral" shots in different arms had a significantly increased antibody response, which continued to grow over time and was even more effective against the Omicron variant. While more research is needed, the findings may have implications for other multidose vaccinations, potentially impacting how vaccines are administered in the future.