Updated Covid-19 Vaccine: Effectiveness Against XBB.1.5 Variant | Health News – Medriva

In the continuing battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, with its ever-changing variants, a beacon of hope has emerged. According to recent data from the Netherlands, the updated Covid-19 vaccine displays an effectiveness of 70.7% against hospitalization from the XBB.1.5 variant. This new strain has been causing concern worldwide due to its potential impact on public health, but the updated vaccine provides a promising defense.

Groundbreaking research has shed light on the effectiveness of the updated Covid-19 booster vaccines, particularly the XBB.1.5 updated variant. This booster has been found to offer approximately 54% increased protection against symptomatic infections, including the JN.1 variant. This is a significant milestone in the fight against the pandemic, especially as we adapt to newer variants such as XBB 1.5, XBB 1.16, and EG 5.1. These findings highlight the importance of the BA 4/5 bivalent booster, especially in an era where there is a concerningly slow uptake of vaccines and boosters among older persons.

Moreover, the ChulaCov19 mRNA vaccine has shown promising results, eliciting high neutralizing antibodies and strong T cell responses. This is a critical advancement, as understanding COVID-19 vaccines and their approvals is crucial in managing the pandemic. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, which are fully FDA approved, and the Novavax vaccine, authorized for use through an emergency use authorization (EUA), have also played a significant role in curbing the pandemic.

New preprint research suggests that updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines help prevent severe illness and reduce the risk of long COVID. Moreover, updated vaccines have been found to be effective against the XBB.1.5 variant. Particularly among adults aged 60 and older, new Dutch research suggests that an updated Pfizer vaccine could help protect against severe illness. There is also evidence that updated booster shots reduce the risk of hospitalization and death among older adults.

Interestingly, a retrospective study found that COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness may fluctuate based on the time of day the vaccine is received. Daytime vaccination potentially provides more benefits, a discovery that could have significant implications for future vaccination strategies.

The latest Covid-19 vaccine offers strong protection against symptomatic infection, including from the XBB.1.5 variant. Updated Covid-19 vaccines provided 54% protection against symptomatic infection among immunocompetent adults. While the goal of the US Covid-19 vaccination program is to prevent severe disease, measuring vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection offers an extra early look at how well the vaccines are working. This is often the first estimate thats available because more people get an infection than are hospitalized, thus providing a large enough population to study sooner.

As we continue to navigate this global pandemic, its clear that updated vaccines and boosters are our best defense against newer variants. They offer significant protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly among older adults. As the virus continues to evolve, its crucial we stay informed and adhere to recommended vaccination schedules for optimal protection.

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Updated Covid-19 Vaccine: Effectiveness Against XBB.1.5 Variant | Health News - Medriva