The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released two reports showing the bivalent COVID-19 booster provides significant protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization, especially for people age 65 and older.
These new reports follow a recent study showing that symptomatic people who received the bivalent vaccine were less likely to test positive for COVID-19.
“Together, these three reports tell us the bivalent vaccine is doing its job. Even if you’ve been vaccinated with all the monovalent doses, the bivalent booster will still significantly reduce your risk for both mild and severe disease,” said Paul Cieslak, senior health advisor and medical director, Communicable Diseases and Immunizations at Oregon Health Authority.
The bivalent booster, which targets the spike protein of both the original COVID-19 virus strain and the Omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.4, was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Aug. 31 and recommended by CDC soon thereafter. Since then, scientists and public health experts have been monitoring its effectiveness in the United States.
Results of the studies
One report tracked emergency department and urgent care visits (as well as hospitalizations) between Sept. 13 and Nov. 18. The study included 9,000 adults ages 18 or older, all of whom had symptoms and were tested for COVID-19 after arriving at the health care facility.
People who had received the bivalent booster were:
- 56% less likely to be visit the ER or urgent care than those who had not received any COVID-19 vaccines.
- 31% less likely to visit the ER or urgent care than those who had received only the monovalent (original) vaccine, with the most previous dose received two to four months earlier.
- 50% less likely to visit the ER or urgent care than those who had received only the monovalent vaccine, with the most previous dose received at least 11 months earlier.
The numbers were similar when looking at people who were hospitalized.
People who had received the bivalent booster were:
- 57% less likely to be hospitalized than those who had not received any COVID-19 vaccines.
- 38% less likely to be hospitalized than those who had received only the monovalent (original) vaccine, with the most previous dose received five to seven months earlier.
- 45% less likely to be hospitalized than those who had received only the monovalent vaccine, with the most previous dose received at least 11 months earlier.
The other report studied COVID-19-related hospitalizations for people 65 and older between Sept. 8 and Nov. 30 who tested for COVID-19 after arriving at the hospital. For the study’s 798 patients, the report showed even stronger evidence of the bivalent booster’s effectiveness.
People age 65 and older who had received the bivalent booster were:
- 84% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those 65+ who had not received any COVID-19 vaccinations.
- 73% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who had received two to four doses of the monovalent (original) vaccine, with the most previous dose received five to seven months earlier.
What’s next?
“If you haven’t yet received the updated booster, do so as soon as you can,” Cieslak said. “Hospitals are already overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients along with flu and RSV patients. Vaccinations are vital to protect yourself and those around you.”
Currently, no further COVID-19 booster is being recommended. If you received the bivalent booster shortly after it was authorized on Aug. 31, you may be more susceptible now to infection, but the vaccines still help protect from severe disease, hospitalization and death.
If you’re not sure if you’ve received the bivalent booster, remember that when the bivalent booster became available for different age groups, the monovalent (original) booster was discontinued for those age groups. Therefore:
- For those 12 and older who got a COVID-19 booster shot Sept. 2 or later would have received the bivalent booster.
- Children ages 5 through 11 who got a booster shot Oct. 12 or later would have received the bivalent booster.
- Children ages 6 months through 5 years who got a booster shot Dec. 9 or later (and who received the Moderna primary series) would have received the bivalent booster. Children ages 6 months through 4 years who completed a Pfizer primary series are not eligible for a booster shot at this time.
Read our blog from September to learn more about the bivalent booster.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine near you, go to Vaccines.gov, or call 211.