The latest COVID-19 vaccines offer 54% more protection against the virus in adults, according to new research released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
of dataThe report, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, found that the vaccine, approved in September, was able to target more virus strains than those currently circulating across the country. It has been shown to be protective against both recent strains and mutant strains of the new coronavirus.
Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, said the CDC findings are encouraging and should encourage more New Yorkers to receive the latest booster shot. Data shows less than 10% of Long Island residents have been vaccinated to date.
However, Professor Hirsch said the study had limitations, including a lack of data on how effective the booster was in preventing severe COVID-19 infections, including hospitalization and death. I admit it.
“The fact that it has been shown to be effective is…very encouraging and we believe it is very likely to be effective in preventing the worst outcomes of coronavirus,” he said. .
The nationwide study looked at more than 9,200 people with coronavirus-like symptoms who were tested for the virus at a CVS Pharmacy or Walgreens store between September 21 and January 14. Nearly 3,300 of those patients tested positive for the virus, researchers said.
The data showed that among people who received a booster shot seven to 59 days ago, the vaccine was 58% effective in preventing symptomatic infection. Meanwhile, the report found that the booster shot was 49% effective in people who had been vaccinated 60 to 119 days earlier.
“Efficacy is expected to wane over time after vaccination, especially for mild disease,” the report said. “CDC continues to [vaccine effectiveness]”
While most studies to date have measured the vaccine's effectiveness against hospitalization and severe illness (the CDC says it will consider these results in a future report), the latest findings This is in line with or exceeds previous studies showing the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19.
Health officials say the booster's effectiveness exceeds the annual efficacy rate of influenza vaccines, which is about 50%.
This is the third updated shot approved by the FDA, following the original vaccine series.
The FDA approved the latest vaccine shot for people 6 months and older on Sept. 12, but the percentage of Americans who have received the latest shot has lagged.
Nationwide, Only 17% of Americans According to , the percentage of people who receive a booster while in New York state is quite low at 11.6%. State health department data.
Meanwhile, Long Island is in the bottom 20% of the state's 62 counties in terms of booster intake.
In Nassau County, 9.3% of residents have received a booster shot, compared to 8.6% in Suffolk County, according to health department data.
Dr. Andrew Handel, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, said a variety of factors are causing these numbers to decline.
“I feel like people are less enthusiastic about vaccines overall,” Handel said, adding a focus on vaccinating individuals who are most at risk, especially because their immunity has waned from their previous shot. argued that it should be placed. “And the current virus strain has become less likely to cause severe disease over time.”
The COVID-19 positivity rate both statewide and on Long Island is dripped down Data from the Ministry of Health shows numbers have been declining in recent weeks since the season's peak in early January.
