COVID-19 jabs still provide good protection after 20 weeks

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-01-13 09:00

International

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Immunity after the second COVID-19 jab seems to wane slightly after 20 weeks, especially in those over 65, according to international researchers who say the jabs still provide solid protection. The team looked at protection against hospitalisation and death over time following the second dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca. Effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant seemed to peak in the early weeks after the second dose, and then at 20 weeks decreased to 44.3 per cent for AZ, and 66.3 per cent for the Pfizer vaccine. Protection against hospitalisation decreased only slightly, to 80 per cent with AZ and 91 per cent with the Pfizer vaccine; and protection against death fell to 84.5 per cent for AZ and 91.9 per cent for Pfizer.