Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Single Shot Of Pfizer Vaccine Cuts Hospitalization Risks, UK Study Finds
Reuters: 'Real-World' UK Data Shows 70% Decline In COVID Infections After First Pfizer Shot
England’s coronavirus vaccine campaign is significantly reducing cases of COVID-19, with a drop of around 70% in infections among healthcare workers who have had a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, British health officials said on Monday. Data analysed by Public Health England (PHE) showed the Pfizer provided high levels of protection against infection and symptomatic disease from a single dose, and that hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 will be reduced by more 75% in elderly people who have had a first dose. (2/22)
MarketWatch: Even One Dose Of Pfizer Vaccine Reduces Coronavirus-Infection Risk, Public Health England Says
For those over 80 years old, one dose is 57% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 disease after three or four weeks of inoculation, rising to more than 85% after the second dose. Early data suggest vaccinated people who go on to become infected are far less likely to die or be hospitalized, Public Health England added. (Goldstein, 2/22)
The Wall Street Journal: Covid-19 Vaccinations Cut Hospitalizations And Deaths, U.K. Finds
The new information from the U.K., published Monday, is preliminary and hasn’t been reviewed by other scientists, but provides reasons for optimism that vaccines offer a route out of a pandemic that has claimed at least 2.5 million lives world-wide and sickened tens of millions. The data suggest vaccines are most successful in preventing hospitalizations and deaths, a top concern of health authorities. While vaccines also suppress new infections, the effect isn’t as pronounced. (Douglas and Colchester, 2/22)
CNN: UK Study Finds One Dose Of Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine Reduces Risk Of Infection By 72%
Health workers were tested for Covid-19 infection every two weeks using PCR tests and twice a week with lateral flow tests, Dr. Susan Hopkins, strategic response director at PHE, explained, meaning "there was a lot of asymptomatic testing," she said. "Overall we are seeing a really strong effect to reducing any infection: asymptomatic and symptomatic," Hopkins said during a press conference held by the UK's Science Media Centre on Monday. (John, Senthilingam, Kennedy and Dean, 2/22)
