Older adults have substantial protection against severe COVID-19 when they are both vaccinated and boosted, according to a study including 1.6 million Veterans Administration patients.
The study took place during periods of delta and omicron variant prominence. The incidence of hospitalization for COVID-19 pneumonia or death was 8.9 per 10,000 persons who had been vaccinated and boosted, which the researchers considered low incidence.
In comparison, the incidence of adverse outcomes for high-risk older adults who were vaccinated and boosted was tenfold higher, but still a relatively low rate even so, wrote of co-author Dawn M. Bravata, MD, of the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine.
“This is remarkable, good news about the power and effectiveness of receiving COVID-19 boosting for all groups,” said Bravata, in a statement. “These results, from a period of delta and omicron predominance, should encourage people to get vaccinated and boosted,” she said in a statement.
The study stands out for its inclusion of a large number of patients who were older, had comorbidities or were immunocompromised, the authors noted.
Full findings were published in JAMA.
Related articles:
Residents with COVID-19 booster vax get omicron immunity bump, nursing home study finds
CDC: Two booster shots cut severe COVID risk in nursing home residents by 74 percent
