How Effective Are COVID Vaccinations at Preventing Infection?
COVID vaccinations are highly effective at preventing infection, particularly severe forms of the disease, although their ability to prevent infection can vary with different variants of the virus. Initial data showed that vaccines like Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson were over 90% effective at preventing symptomatic infection with the original strain of the virus. However, newer variants, like Delta and Omicron, have shown some ability to evade the immune response, leading to a reduction in vaccine effectiveness against mild and moderate infections. Despite this, vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Recent studies show that, while breakthrough infections are possible, vaccinated individuals are far less likely to suffer from severe outcomes compared to those who remain unvaccinated. The effectiveness of COVID vaccinations improves significantly with booster shots, which enhance the immune response and help protect against emerging variants. In addition to reducing the risk of infection, vaccines also help prevent the spread of the virus, further aiding in the control of the pandemic and protecting vulnerable populations.
