Boosters

COVID vaccine efficacy against severe illness just under 50%, per early estimates from 2023 Two European observational studies estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine approved in fall 2023 against hospitalization, the first one finding 49% overall VE in adults, and one showing good protection—but uneven uptake—among pregnant women. CIDRAP

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Study: COVID vaccines saved 1.6 million lives in Europe New estimates published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine show that at least 1.6 million European lives have been directly saved by COVID-19 vaccinations, with 60% of those lives saved when Omicron became the dominant strain of the virus—and those numbers may be an undercount.  CIDRAP

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As of March 2023, 2.2 million COVID-19–related deaths have been reported across Europe. 

Reminders—but not free rides—boost COVID-19 booster uptake Text messages increased 30-day COVID-19 booster uptake by 21%. CIDRAP

Nature has published a large study showing that text message reminders to receive a COVID-19 booster worked to increase vaccine uptake, but that offering free rides to pharmacies did not.