The New England Journal of Medicine February 24, 2021|Original Article| “BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Mass Vaccination Setting” DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa2101765 by N Dagan, M.D., N Barda, M.D., E. Kepten, Ph.D. et al.
Free Access at NEJM.org. Read the paper for full detail and hear the audio interview with the Editors of the NEJM rendering their perspective on the findings.
Summary of the Article
Prior to EUA approval this vaccine, BNT162b2 mRNA is commonly known as the Pfizer vaccine, was tested in a traditional randomized clinical trial. These current data sought through observational studies, at one of Israel’s large HMO vaccine rollout, to analyze how the vaccine performed in a real-world setting. This HMO has a significant database from which to draw and were able to evaluate data from ~600,000 vaccinated persons with ~600,000 un-vaccinated matched controls. In total 10,000 were infected with about half being asymptomatic. The majority of the vaccinated had received just one dose.
Results that were summarized were based on “Estimated vaccine effectiveness for the study outcomes at days 14 through 20 after the first dose and at 7 or more days after the second dose…”
First dose data: documented infection, 46% effective in preventing infection
Second dose data: document infection, 92% effective in preventing infection
First dose data: Symptomatic Covid-19, 57% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19
Second dose data: Symptomatic Covid-19, 94% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19
First dose data: Hospitalization, 74% effective in preventing hospitalization
Second dose data: Hospitalization, 87% effective in preventing hospitalization
First dose data: Severe disease, 62% effective in preventing severe Covid-19
Second dose data: Severe disease, 92% effective in preventing severe Covid-19
First dose data: Preventing death, 72% effective in preventing death from Covid-19
“Estimated effectiveness in specific subpopulations assessed for documented infection and symptomatic Covid-19 was consistent across age groups, with potentially slightly lower effectiveness in persons with multiple coexisting conditions.”
“CONCLUSIONS. This study in a nationwide mass vaccination setting suggests that the BNT162b2 vaccine is effective for a wide range of Covid-19-related outcomes, a finding consistent with that of the randomized trial.”
Graph from the article's supplemental section provides additional information regarding the potential effectiveness of the first dose alone versus non-vaccinated and matching control group.
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