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Interim effectiveness estimates of the 2023-24 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are now available in 2 VISION 2.0 Network papers, which have been published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR):
- Interim Estimates of 2023–2024 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States
- Interim Effectiveness of Updated 2023–2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults Aged ≥18 Years — VISION and IVY Networks, September 2023–January 2024
Early data suggest that annual influenza vaccination reduces critical illness. The summary from 4 CDC influenza vaccine effectiveness networks indicates that vaccination with a 2023-24 influenza vaccine reduced the risk for medically attended influenza outpatient visits and hospitalizations among children, adolescents, and adults across 22 U.S. states.
Furthermore, the updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine cuts the risk of visiting the emergency department, urgent care or being hospitalized with COVID-19 by about half among people who are vaccinated.
CDC recommends that all persons aged ≥6 months who have not yet received their influenza vaccination this season get vaccinated while influenza circulates locally. Additionally, CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, especially people 65 years or older and people with medical conditions, such as weakened immune systems, that make them more likely to get very sick with COVID-19.
Westat authors include Zachary A. Weber, PhD, Duck-Hye Yang, PhD, Sarah W. Ball, ScD, Elizabeth A.K. Rowley, DrPH, and Sarah E. Reese, PhD.
Westat’s VISION Network, in collaboration with the CDC, has provided vital insights on the effectiveness of this season’s COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. This collaborative network has effectively delivered rapid data to inform key policymakers at the CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the White House.