COVID-19 Vaccines Effective Against Delta Variant – How Pfizer, Moderna and J&J Compare

Pfizer Moderna Johnson and Johnson COVID Vaccines

Data from a national study shows that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalizations and emergency department visits caused by the Delta variant.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing hospitalizations and emergency department visits caused by the Delta variant, according to data from a national study. That data also indicate that Moderna’s vaccine is significantly more effective against Delta than Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

“These real-world data show that vaccines remain highly effective at reducing COVID-19 related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, even in the presence of the new COVID-19 variant,” said study author Shaun Grannis, M.D., M.S., Regenstrief Institute vice president for data and analytics and professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. “We strongly recommend vaccinations for all who are eligible to reduce serious illness and ease the burden on our healthcare system.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s VISION Network analyzed more than 32,000 medical encounters from nine states during June, July, and August 2021, when the Delta variant became the predominant strain. The results showed that unvaccinated individuals with COVID-19 are 5-7 times more likely to need emergency department care or hospitalization, similar to the overall effectiveness prior to the variant.

The study in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report is also the first analysis from the VISION Network to show a marked difference between the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer). In the study’s time period:

  • Moderna was 95 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults ages 18 and older.
  • Pfizer was 80 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults ages 18 and older.
  • Johnson & Johnson was 60 percent effective at preventing hospitalizations among adults ages 18 and older.

The study also found that vaccine effectiveness is lower for people 75 years and older, which has not been shown in previous research. This could be due to a range of factors, including the increased time since vaccination.

When it came to preventing emergency department and urgent care visits, analysis showed that:

  • Moderna was 92 percent effective.
  • Pfizer was 77 percent effective.
  • Johnson & Johnson was 65 percent effective.

Scientists say these findings need further monitoring and evaluation.

“Despite the differences in effectiveness, vaccines continue to offer much more protection than not getting one at all,” said Dr. Grannis. “While breakthrough cases do happen, data shows the symptoms are less severe. The vast majority of COVID hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among unvaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines are powerful tools for combating the pandemic.”

The VISION network, funded by the CDC, includes seven organizations that contribute and analyze data from U.S. healthcare systems to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. In addition to Regenstrief Institute, other members are Columbia University Irving Medical Center, HealthPartners, Intermountain Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Northwest and University of Colorado.

“Interim Estimates of COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department or Urgent Care Clinic Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults During SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant Predominance — Nine States, June–August 2021” is published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In addition to Dr. Grannis, other authors on the paper are Elizabeth A. Rowley, DrPH, M.S. of IU School of Medicine; Toan C. Ong, PhD of Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Edward Stenehjem, M.D., MSc of InterMountain Healthcare; Nicola P. Klein, M.D., PhD of Columbia University; Malini DeSilva, M.D. of HealthPartners; Allison Naleway, PhD of Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Karthik Natarajan, PhD of Columbia University and Mark G. Thompson of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team.

4 Comments on "COVID-19 Vaccines Effective Against Delta Variant – How Pfizer, Moderna and J&J Compare"

  1. Now do Natural Immunity

  2. USA government early on was committed in anticipation and $$$ to back Pfizer – to admit NOW, that the competing Moderna is substantially MORE effective than Pfizer is NOT something the “big guys” will ever willingly or freely admit – count on it!

    • This was already advertised in Feb or March: Pfizer was 1% more effective than Moderna with the base strain, but Moderna was better prepared for most expected variant strains. I chose my shots based on that.

  3. I wonder whether this is a meta-analysis of morbidity data, or based on a controlled study among subjects that were antibody-free (no prior COVID infection). If the study is based on population statistics, the likelihood of vaccinated subjects with prior COVID infection could bias the analysis. Especially since PF vaccine was the first to be offered and which predominated among Category 1 Americans (elderly, immune compromised or essential workers), it’s likely that a greater share of population who received PF vaccine were truly COVID antibody free..
    The data are compelling that everyone whom is eligible may receive significant health benefit by getting vaccinated.

Leave a comment

Email address is optional. If provided, your email will not be published or shared.