COVID-19 vaccines hold up against Delta, protection decreases in older people

CHICAGO, Sept. 10 (Reuters) – Three U.S. studies suggest COVID-19 vaccines offer strong protection against hospitalization and death, even against the highly transmissible Delta variant, but vaccine protection appears to be declining among older populations , especially among the 75 and older.

U.S. hospitalization data from nine states during the period when the Delta variant was dominant also suggest that the Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) vaccine was more effective at preventing hospitalizations in people of all ages than vaccines from BioNTech / Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) or Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N).

In this study of more than 32,000 visits to emergency care facilities, emergency rooms and hospitals, Moderna’s vaccine was 95% effective in preventing hospitalization, compared to 80% for Pfizer and 60% for J&J.

Overall, the results, published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Weekly Report on Death and Illness on Friday, show that vaccines continue to offer strong protection against COVID-19.

Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Aurora Ellis

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