- Moline, Heidi L;
- Whitaker, Michael;
- Deng, Li;
- Rhodes, Julia C;
- Milucky, Jennifer;
- Pham, Huong;
- Patel, Kadam;
- Anglin, Onika;
- Reingold, Arthur;
- Chai, Shua J;
- Alden, Nisha B;
- Kawasaki, Breanna;
- Meek, James;
- Yousey-Hindes, Kimberly;
- Anderson, Evan J;
- Farley, Monica M;
- Ryan, Patricia A;
- Kim, Sue;
- Nunez, Val Tellez;
- Como-Sabetti, Kathryn;
- Lynfield, Ruth;
- Sosin, Daniel M;
- McMullen, Chelsea;
- Muse, Alison;
- Barney, Grant;
- Bennett, Nancy M;
- Bushey, Sophrena;
- Shiltz, Jessica;
- Sutton, Melissa;
- Abdullah, Nasreen;
- Talbot, H Keipp;
- Schaffner, William;
- Chatelain, Ryan;
- Ortega, Jake;
- Murthy, Bhavini Patel;
- Zell, Elizabeth;
- Schrag, Stephanie J;
- Taylor, Christopher;
- Shang, Nong;
- Verani, Jennifer R;
- Havers, Fiona P
Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use in the United States (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) indicate that these vaccines have high efficacy against symptomatic disease, including moderate to severe illness (1-3). In addition to clinical trials, real-world assessments of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness are critical in guiding vaccine policy and building vaccine confidence, particularly among populations at higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19, including older adults. To determine the real-world effectiveness of the three currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines among persons aged ≥65 years during February 1-April 30, 2021, data on 7,280 patients from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) were analyzed with vaccination coverage data from state immunization information systems (IISs) for the COVID-NET catchment area (approximately 4.8 million persons). Among adults aged 65-74 years, effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 94%-98%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 95%-98%) for Moderna, and 84% (95% CI = 64%-93%) for Janssen vaccine products. Effectiveness of full vaccination in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalization among adults aged ≥75 years was 91% (95% CI = 87%-94%) for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96% (95% CI = 93%-98%) for Moderna, and 85% (95% CI = 72%-92%) for Janssen vaccine products. COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States are highly effective in preventing COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in older adults. In light of real-world data demonstrating high effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among older adults, efforts to increase vaccination coverage in this age group are critical to reducing the risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization.