A 72% reduction of Covid hospitalizations with the bivalent (BA.5) booster vs not boosted in people age 65+ thelancet.com/journals/lanin… @TheLancetInfDis @ClalitHealth @ClalitResearch @ArbelRonen and colleagues
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"This study is one of the first to evaluate real-world effectiveness of the bivalent mRNA vaccine booster to reduce hospitalization or death due to Covid-19." 68% reduction of death

Apr 13, 2023 · 10:42 PM UTC

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Replying to @EricTopol
The advantage of the bivalent booster didn’t stop or trail off significantly at 4 months. The study ended at that time so it could be published. Perhaps there will be a 6 or 8 month followup.
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Replying to @EricTopol
Thank you. Are there any verified data yet on bivalent-booster effectiveness in people with chronic illness (autoimmune disease, for example)? A preprint from Finland recently showed results similar to these in >65 but no improvement in the chronically ill participants.
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Replying to @EricTopol
Great. But most elderly are over 7+ months from last booster. Its effectiveness waned at 4 months! Very few “tools” left! We are failing.
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Replying to @EricTopol
Those confidence intervals are quite large (42-82!). Plus, we're only talking 4 months of decent protection. Certainly better than nothing, but let's not pretend this is great news.
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Replying to @EricTopol
As usual, no mention of whether the subjects had been tested for actual COVID infection so there is no understanding if their protection is coming from acquired immunity. Doesn’t help sell vaccines of course.
Replying to @EricTopol
thank you for sharing as this bivalated elderly is smiling. Still covid free but knowing this makes me breathe easier.