According to the CDC, both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines demonstrate remarkable effectiveness, reducing the risk of infection by 90 percent two weeks after the second dose. A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused on healthcare workers and first responders, confirming that these vaccines are highly effective in real-world scenarios.
This study, published on Monday, offers much-needed good news after a challenging year of the pandemic. Findings indicate the vaccines effectively prevent both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections, providing reassurance that the results from clinical trials translate well into everyday life.
One dose of the vaccine was shown to prevent 80 percent of infections two weeks post-vaccination, with that number increasing to 90 percent after the second dose. This is particularly significant because it addresses concerns within the scientific community regarding whether vaccinated individuals could still transmit the virus through asymptomatic infections. The evidence from this study suggests that this is unlikely.
Concerns about the vaccines’ effectiveness against COVID-19 variants were also addressed during the study period, which spanned from December 14, 2020, to March 13, 2021 — a time when several concerning variants were circulating. Despite this, the vaccines maintained their effectiveness.
The study included 3,950 participants who are considered at high risk of virus exposure, such as healthcare workers and first responders. None had previously contracted COVID-19. Of the participants, 62.8 percent had received both doses, while 12.1 percent had received just one.
Throughout the study, participants conducted weekly nasal swabs for PCR testing, the most accurate form of COVID-19 testing available. This enabled researchers to identify both asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. Interestingly, 58 percent of infections were detected before participants exhibited any symptoms, with only 10.2 percent of those infected remaining asymptomatic.
Here’s the remarkable part: for fully vaccinated participants, there were just 0.04 infections per 1,000 person-days, meaning only 0.04 infections occurred in a day among 1,000 people. Even among those with just one dose, the numbers were promising, showing 0.19 infections per 1,000 person-days.
In summary, “This study shows that our national vaccination efforts are working,” states CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky.
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