Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines 90% effective in preventing infections in ‘real-world conditions’, CDC study finds

‘This study shows that our national vaccination efforts are working,’ Dr Rochelle Walensky says

The Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines were "highly effective" against preventing symptomatic and asymptomatic infections in “real-world conditions”, according to a study shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday.

In the study, federal officials examined nearly 4,000 at-risk essential workers, such as healthcare workers and first responders, who received the vaccine across six states from 14 December to 13 March, 2021.

Results showed that a two-dose regimen of either vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, prevented 90 per cent of infections two weeks after people received the second dose. The vaccines prevented 80 per cent of infections two weeks after people received the first dose, the study also revealed.

The study's findings come after there has been debate among health officials on if a vaccinated individuals would still be able to experience a Covid-19 infection and then transmit the novel virus to others, which could put unvaccinated individuals at risk.

These findings underscored the protection an individual experiences from infection not just after the second dose of the vaccine, but also after the first dose.

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The results were consistent with the results from the clinical trials conducted by both of the pharmaceutical companies for their vaccines upon receiving emergency use authorisation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC said.

"This study shows that our national vaccination efforts are working. The authorized mRNA Covid-19 vaccines provided early, substantial real-world protection against infection for our nation's health care personnel, first responders, and other frontline essential workers," said CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky in a statement.

"These findings should offer hope to the millions of Americans receiving Covid-19 vaccines each day and to those who will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated in the weeks ahead. The authorised vaccines are the key tool that will help bring an end to this devastating pandemic,” she continued.

The CDC study included 3,950 people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine after they both received emergency use authorisation in December. The participants involved were all essential workers like healthcare workers and first responders from six states: Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.

This study comes as the United States has administered more than 180 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to data collected by the CDC. About 15.8 per cent of American adults are fully vaccinated from the novel virus.