Public health impact of covid-19 vaccines in the United States: observational study

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Estimating the early impact of the US COVID-19 vaccination programme on COVID-19 cases, emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and deaths among adults aged 65 years and older: an ecological analysis of national surveillance data

Lucy A. McNamara et al.

Summary: The initial roll-out of the US COVID-19 vaccination program was associated with reductions in COVID-19 cases, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions among older adults.

LANCET (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants

Hung Fu Tseng et al.

Summary: A test-negative case-control analysis using data from a diverse population in California, USA, demonstrates that vaccine efficacy of a three-dose regimen of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine is reduced against infection with the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant in comparison to Delta, but that efficacy against hospitalization remained high for both variants.

NATURE MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Effect of Covid-19 Vaccination on Transmission of Alpha and Delta Variants

David W. Eyre et al.

Summary: In this study, it was found that vaccination reduces the transmission risk of the Delta variant, but the protection of the vaccine decreases over time. The effectiveness of the vaccine is higher against the Alpha variant compared to the Delta variant.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

COVID-19 Incidence and Death Rates Among Unvaccinated and Fully Vaccinated Adults with and Without Booster Doses During Periods of Delta and Omicron Variant Emergence — 25 U.S. Jurisdictions, April 4–December 25, 2021

Amelia G. Johnson et al.

MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Predominance of the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variants — United States, June 2021–January 2022

Anastasia S. Lambrou et al.

MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT (2022)

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Article Immunology

Clinical and Virological Features of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants of Concern: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), and B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Sean Wei Xiang Ong et al.

Summary: The study revealed an association between infection with the B.1.617.2 variant and increased disease severity, higher viral loads, and prolonged duration of viral shedding. Vaccination remained protective against severe outcomes.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Infections, hospitalisations, and deaths averted via a nationwide vaccination campaign using the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Israel: a retrospective surveillance study

Eric J. Haas et al.

Summary: The nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel has successfully prevented a large number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, especially among individuals aged 65 years and older. The full vaccination of the population has played a significant role in controlling the pandemic.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Hospital admission and emergency care attendance risk for SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) compared with alpha (B.1.1.7) variants of concern: a cohort study

Katherine A. Twohig et al.

Summary: A study in England found that patients with COVID-19 infected with the delta variant were more likely to be admitted to hospital or attend emergency care compared to those infected with the alpha variant. This suggests that outbreaks of the delta variant in unvaccinated populations may pose a greater burden on healthcare services.

LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Clinical severity of, and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against, covid-19 from omicron, delta, and alpha SARS-CoV-2 variants in the United States: prospective observational study

Adam S. Lauring et al.

Summary: mRNA vaccines were highly effective in preventing covid-19 associated hospital admissions related to the alpha, delta, and omicron variants. Three vaccine doses were required for protection against omicron, while two doses provided protection against delta and alpha variants. Omicron variant showed lower disease severity compared to delta variant but still resulted in morbidity and mortality. Vaccinated patients had lower disease severity than unvaccinated patients for all the variants.

BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL (2022)

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Article Health Care Sciences & Services

County-level vaccination coverage and rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States: An ecological analysis

John M. McLaughlin et al.

Summary: The study showed that in the United States, counties with higher vaccination rates had significantly lower rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths, demonstrating a dose response relationship, which persisted even during the predominant period of the Delta variant.

LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-AMERICAS (2022)

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Article Immunology

Coronavirus Disease Case Definitions, Diagnostic Testing Criteria, and Surveillance in 25 Countries with Highest Reported Case Counts

Amitabh B. Suthar et al.

Summary: A comparison of case definitions and diagnostic testing criteria for COVID-19 in 25 countries with the highest case counts revealed significant heterogeneity. This heterogeneity has important implications for comparing case counts, transmission, and vaccine effectiveness.

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in the United States-Challenges and Opportunities

Rochelle P. Walensky et al.

Summary: The Viewpoint discusses the measures taken by federal agencies to rapidly characterize emerging coronavirus variants and monitor their implications for national pandemic response and control. This includes assessment of the ongoing effectiveness of current diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.

JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Impact and effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths following a nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel: an observational study using national surveillance data

Eric J. Haas et al.

Summary: This study assessed the real-world effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 in Israel, showing high efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, severe disease, and death. As vaccine coverage increased, there were marked declines in SARS-CoV-2 outcomes, indicating that COVID-19 vaccination can help control the pandemic.

LANCET (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

COVID-19 vaccine coverage in health-care workers in England and effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against infection (SIREN): a prospective, multicentre, cohort study

Victoria Jane Hall et al.

Summary: The study aimed to determine the factors associated with vaccine coverage for two COVID-19 vaccines in the UK and to document the vaccine effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine among healthcare workers. Results showed that the vaccine can prevent both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections in working-age adults, with a vaccine effectiveness of 70% after the first dose and 85% after the second dose.

LANCET (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines Among Health Care Personnel-33 US Sites, January-March 2021

Tamara Pilishvili et al.

MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Impacts of social distancing policies on mobility and COVID-19 case growth in the US

Gregory A. Wellenius et al.

Summary: This study shows that state-level social distancing orders in the US significantly reduced mobility and limited the spread of disease.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Temporal trends in the association of social vulnerability and race/ethnicity with county-level COVID-19 incidence and outcomes in the USA: an ecological analysis

Shabatun J. Islam et al.

Summary: The study found that counties with higher levels of social vulnerability were independently associated with higher COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates. Throughout the analysis period, majority white communities experienced the highest incidence during the winter 'third wave', while counties with proportionately higher minority populations experienced worse outcomes.

BMJ OPEN (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health