Getting boosted with newer COVID-19 vaccines reduces your risk of ending up in hospital

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-06-25 01:00

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The updated Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XBB variant are 62% effective at preventing COVID-19-related hospitalisation, compared to being unvaccinated or only receiving the original vaccines, according to international researchers who say continued booster shots are likely important for people across a broad age range. The researchers looked at US data on COVID-19 hospitalisations in late 2023 and vaccination histories, and say there was no clear difference in risk for unvaccinated people and those who'd only received the original vaccines. In an accompanying editorial, independent researchers say it is difficult now to untangle whether the protection is coming from getting the newer vaccine, or simply getting boosted more recently and it is likely both vaccinated and unvaccinated people have some baseline immunity now the virus has been circulating so long.