According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines provide highly effective protection against the COVID-19 virus. Specifically, the study found both vaccines to be 90% effective at preventing infections two weeks after an individual’s second vaccine dose; and 80% effective at preventing infections two weeks after a first dose is administered.
The study analyzed how both vaccines protected 3,950 healthcare personnel, first responders and other frontline essential workers — who completed weekly COVID-19 testing for 13 consecutive weeks among eight locations across the country. The participants were examined through text message, email, and direct medical reports. Since the study concentrated on analyzing the efficacy of both vaccines on this particular group of workers whose jobs put them in high risk situations daily, health experts view the CDC’s report as highly significant.
“This study is tremendously encouraging. These findings underscore the importance of getting both of the recommended doses of the vaccine in order to get the greatest level of protection against COVID-19, especially as our concerns about variants escalate.” — Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director
The CDC tested volunteers regardless of symptoms. More than 62% of volunteers received both doses of either a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, while more than 12% received only a single dose. Among the 2,961 individuals vaccinated with one or more doses and the 989 unvaccinated participants, a total of 205 had a positive PCR test for COVID-19. 161 infections were identified when participants were unvaccinated; eight were identified among those partially immunized and three were identified among those fully immunized — more than 14 days after their second dose of the vaccine.
As the numbers for individuals vaccinated increase, studies like this are essential to show how effective the vaccines truly are. As of March 29th, nearly 29% of the U.S. population has received as least one dose of a vaccine; and approximately 16% have been fully vaccinated according to CDC data.
While the CDC continues to study the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, trust our team to keep you informed of pertinent updates and new reports as they are released.
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