New Research Supports Efficacy of COVID-19 Boosters in Preventing Severe Outcomes
(City, Date) – New research conducted by a team of renowned experts provides powerful evidence for the significant benefits of COVID-19 boosters in preventing hospitalization and death. The study, carried out by esteemed researchers from the University of Michigan, analyzed over 80 studies and 150 million patient observations to meticulously evaluate the effectiveness of monovalent and bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Importance of Periodic Vaccine Updates
New research findings strongly advocate for the periodic update of COVID-19 vaccines to align with the circulating virus variants. The University of Michigan researchers establish that both monovalent and bivalent boosters substantially contribute to preventing severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death.
Evidence from 80 Studies Worldwide
The research team led by Sabir Meah and Bhramar Mukherjee meticulously evaluated 80 scientific studies worldwide, providing a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine doses following the primary series vaccination. The researchers further applied the methods used in these studies to patient data from Michigan Medicine for enhanced accuracy.
Tools for Future Annual Vaccine Formulations
Mukherjee, the John D. Kalbfleish Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics, noted the importance of reliable results and estimates of vaccine effectiveness to combat misinformation and strengthen public trust. The study successfully establishes a repository of methods, providing a robust and reproducible framework for future annual vaccine formulations.
Findings on Bivalent and Monovalent Boosters
The researchers explored three different vaccination regimens: monovalent boosters targeting the original strain, a second monovalent booster with the original formulation, and a new bivalent vaccine updated in fall 2022 to target newer Omicron variants. The study revealed that all sequential doses significantly contribute to preventing hospitalization and death, with the fall 2022 Omicron-specific vaccine dose showing even stronger estimates based on worldwide studies.
Supporting the Trend of Annual Vaccine Updates
The study’s findings support and reinforce the increasingly common practice of annually updating COVID-19 vaccines in the United States and many other countries, including those in the European Union. The fall 2022 vaccine has already been succeeded by an updated vaccine in fall 2023, targeting the newer XBB1.5 Omicron variant, minimizing the risk of severe outcomes.
The researchers anticipate that their conclusions on the benefits of updating vaccines will apply to future annual vaccine formulations as well. However, continuous monitoring and real-world effectiveness studies of annual vaccines remain crucial to further enhance our understanding and combat the ongoing pandemic.
Vital Contributions from Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Highlighting the importance of the disciplines of biostatistics and epidemiology in evaluating vaccine effectiveness, the researchers stress that their study’s key finding is that vaccine effectiveness estimates, especially regarding hospitalization and mortality, remain relatively stable, irrespective of the specific study design and methods employed.
Public Health Implications
The research findings demonstrate the strong protective effects of COVID-19 vaccines, including past and future annual formulations, against hospitalization and death. The study further emphasizes the need for continuous research and monitoring to comprehensively understand the effectiveness of future vaccines.
For more information, refer to the full study published in Science Advances (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj3747).
About the Researchers
Sabir Meah, an alumnus of the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, holds a master’s degree in Biostatistics and currently serves as a biostatistician in Urology at Michigan Medicine. Bhramar Mukherjee, the lead researcher, serves as the John D. Kalbfleish Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics, the Sioban Harlow Collegiate Professor of Public Health, and assistant vice president for research in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan.
References:
“Design and analysis heterogeneity in observational studies of COVID-19 booster effectiveness: A review and case study” by Sabir Meah, Xu Shi, Lars G. Fritsche, Maxwell Salvatore, Abram Wagner, Emily T. Martin and Bhramar Mukherjee, 20 December 2023, Science Advances.
Co-authors: Xu Shi, Lars Fritsche, Maxwell Salvatore, Abram Wagner, Emily Martin, all of U-M. Their cross-discipline collaboration is part of the School of Public Health’s IDEAS, Interdisciplinary Discovery, Engagement + Actions for Society initiative.
