Study Finds Updated COVID Vaccines Still Protect Against Severe Illness

Washington, D.C. (KFMO) - New data shows the latest COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide strong protection against severe illness, even as newer variants circulate. A large study of U.S. veterans found the updated vaccines significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death months after vaccination.

Dr. Celine Gounder says the findings show the shots are still doing what they are designed to do.

Dr. Gounder says overall, the updated vaccine lowered the chance of COVID-related hospitalization by about 40 percent, with even stronger protection against the most serious outcomes, including intensive care and death.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 8,500 adults across the United States who were sick enough to be hospitalized. All patients arrived at the hospital with symptoms that could have been caused by COVID-19. Some tested positive for the virus, while others tested negative and were used as a comparison group. This type of real-world study is commonly used to measure how well vaccines work outside of controlled clinical trials.

The study found people who received the updated COVID vaccine were less likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who were not vaccinated, reinforcing the vaccine’s role in preventing severe disease.