Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 among U.S. healthcare personnel, according to interim real-world data published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study marks the first real-world data to fully support phase III trial results and additional accruing evidence in recent observational studies. Early distribution of the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers helped initiate early and ongoing assessment of vaccine effectiveness in a real-world setting.
Real-world vaccine effectiveness data are critical to guiding evolving COVID-19 vaccine policy. In addition to adherence to recommended infection control and prevention practices, a critical component of controlling the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic and protecting healthcare professionals is ensuring high coverage with safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
This CDC investigation, which is the first U.S. multisite test-negative design vaccine effectiveness study among healthcare professionals, estimates at this point that a single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines is 82% effective against symptomatic COVID-19. Two doses are reported to be 94% effective.
The report includes data collected between January and March and from 33 U.S. sites.
