Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — COVID-NET, 13 States, February–April 2021

Moline, Heidi L.; Whitaker, Michael; Deng, Li; Rhodes, Julia C.; Milucky, Jennifer; Pham, Huong; Patel, Kadam; Anglin, Onika; Reingold, Arthur; Chai, Shua J.; Alden, Nisha B.; Kawasaki, Breanna; Meek, James; Yousey-Hindes, Kimberly; Anderson, Evan J.; Farley, Monica M.; Ryan, Patricia A.; Kim, Sue; Nunez, Val Tellez; Como-Sabetti, Kathryn; Lynfield, Ruth; Sosin, Daniel M.; McMullen, Chelsea; Muse, Alison; Barney, Grant; Bennett, Nancy M.; Bushey, Sophrena; Shiltz, Jessica; Sutton, Melissa; Abdullah, Nasreen; Talbot, H. Keipp; Schaffner, William; Chatelain, Ryan; Ortega, Jake; Murthy, Bhavini Patel; Zell, Elizabeth; Schrag, Stephanie J.; Taylor, Christopher; Shang, Nong; Verani, Jennifer R.; Havers, Fiona P.

Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use in the United States (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) indicate that these vaccines have high efficacy against symptomatic disease, including moderate to severe illness (1-3). In addition to clinical trials, real-world assessments of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness are critical in guiding vaccine policy and building vaccine confidence, particularly among populations at higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults. To determine the real-world effectiveness of the three currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines among persons aged ≥65 years during February 1-April 30, 2021, data on 7,280 patients from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) were analyzed with vaccination coverage data from state immunization information systems (IISs) for the COVID-NET catchment area (approximately 4.8 million persons). Among adults aged 65-74 years, effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 94%-98%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 95%-98%) for Moderna, and 84% (95% CI = 64%-93%) for Janssen vaccine products. Effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥75 years was 91% (95% CI = 87%-94%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 93%-98%) for Moderna, and 85% (95% CI = 72%-92%) for Janssen vaccine products. COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States are highly effective in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in older adults. In light of real-world data demonstrating high effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among older adults, efforts to increase vaccination coverage in this age group are critical to reducing the risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization.