COVID-19 vaccinations likely averted 2.5 million deaths between 2020 and 2024

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-07-26 01:00

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Between 2020 and 2024, international researchers estimate that COVID-19 vaccinations averted 2.5 million deaths globally, as well as saving 15 million life-years - otherwise known as the number of years people would be expected to live. They suggest more than 2.5 million deaths were averted, one per 5,400 vaccine doses administered. They say the majority of lifetime remaining that was saved was among people aged 60 and above.

Media release

From: JAMA

Global Estimates of Lives and Life-Years Saved by COVID-19 Vaccination During 2020-2024

About The Study: This comparative effectiveness study found that COVID-19 vaccinations averted 2.5 million deaths
during 2020-2024 (sensitivity range estimates, 1.4-4.0 million). Estimates in this study are substantially more conservative than previous calculations focusing mostly on the first year of vaccination, but they still clearly demonstrate a major overall benefit from COVID-19 vaccination during the years 2020-2024. Most benefits in lives and life-years saved was secured for a portion of older persons, a minority of the global population.

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Health Forum

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Stanford University School of Medicine, USA

Funder: The work of Dr Ioannidis is supported by an unrestricted gift from Sue and Bob O’Donnell to Stanford University. Antonio Cristiano has been supported by the European Network Staff Exchange for Integrating Precision Health in the Healthcare Systems project (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange No. 823995). Thework of Dr Pezzullowas supported by grant PE00000007 from the European Union within the NextGeneration EU-MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative (INF-ACT).

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