Report presents evidence of the enhanced protection provided by COVID-19 booster
By Patti Cullen, CAE | February 24, 2023 | All members
A study was recently released, “
COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Persons Aged =12 Years by Receipt of Bivalent Booster Doses and Time Since Vaccination,” including several co-authors from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Summary
What is already known about this topic?
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreased with waning of vaccine-derived immunity and emerging omicron sublineages. An updated (bivalent) booster dose enhances protection against infection and medically attended illness, but protection against death has not been evaluated.
What is added by this report?
Bivalent booster recipients in 24 US jurisdictions had slightly higher protection against infection and significantly higher protection against death than was observed for monovalent booster recipients or unvaccinated persons, especially among older adults.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Bivalent COVID-19 booster doses protected against infection and death during BA.4/BA.5 circulation. All eligible persons should get one bivalent booster dose =2 months after their COVID-19 primary series or last monovalent booster dose.
This report presents evidence of the enhanced protection provided by bivalent COVID-19 boosters compared to monovalent vaccines against infection and death during the BA.4/BA.5 period and are consistent with other VE studies. Continued monitoring of the impact of emerging variants on VE against severe COVID-19 outcomes is needed. For the best protection against severe COVID-19, all persons should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination, including receipt of a bivalent booster by eligible persons.
Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO |
pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487