According to a large trial conducted in France, vaccination successfully prevents severe covid-19 infections, even against the Delta type.
The study, released Monday, examined 22 million people over the age of 50 and discovered that those who had had vaccinations were 90 percent less likely to be hospitalized or die. The findings corroborate data from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel, but experts claim this is the most extensive study of its sort yet.
The researchers examined the results of 11 million vaccinated and 11 million unvaccinated participants using data acquired beginning in December 2020, when France initiated its jab campaign. They matched unvaccinated individuals with their vaccinated counterparts from the same region, age, and sex and followed them from the date of the vaccinated person’s second jab to July 20.
Beginning 14 days after the second dosage, the probability of severe Covid was decreased by 90% in vaccinated participants, according to Epi-Phare. This independent medicines safety research group collaborates closely with the French government. In addition, immunization appears to be nearly as effective against the Delta form, offering 84 percent protection in those 75 years and older and 92 percent protection in those 50 to 75 years.
However, that estimate is based only on one month of data, as the variation became prominent in France in June. “The study should be extended to include August and September data,” Epi-Phare director Mahmoud Zureik told AFP.
The study covers vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines, but not with the Jannsen vaccine, approved much later and significantly less extensively used in France.
Additionally, the data indicate that immunization protection against severe COVID-19 did not wane throughout the research – up to five months.