COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations and ICU admissions in the Netherlands, April- August 2021

de Gier, B.; Kooijman, M.; Kemmeren, J.; de Keizer, N.; Dongelmans, D.; van Iersel, S. C. J. L.; van de Kassteele, J.; Andeweg, S. P.; the RIVM COVID-19 epidemiology and surveillance team,; de Melker, H. E.; Hahne, S. J. M.; Knol, M. J.; van den Hof, S.

The objective of this study was to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 hospitalization and ICU admission, per period according to dominating SARS-CoV-2 variant (Alpha and Delta), per vaccine, and per time since vaccination. To this end, data from the national COVID-19 vaccination register was added to the national register of COVID-19 hospitalizations. For the study period 4 April- 29 August 2021, 15,571 hospitalized people with COVID-19 were included in the analysis, of whom 887 (5.7%) were fully vaccinated. Incidence rates of hospitalizations and ICU admissions per age group and vaccination status were calculated, and VE was estimated as 1-incidence rate ratio, adjusted for calendar date and age group in a negative binomial regression model. VE against hospitalization for full vaccination was 94% (95%CI 93-95%) in the Alpha period and 95% (95%CI 94-95%) in the Delta period. The VE for full vaccination against ICU admission was 93% (95%CI 87-96%) in the Alpha period and 97% (95%CI 97-98%) in the Delta period. VE was high in all age groups and did not show waning with time since vaccination up to 20 weeks after full vaccination.