Dr. Gifford Shares Vaccine Effectiveness Data.

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 03/11/2025 10:55:35
• In: Quality/Regulatory

Dr. Gifford Chief Medical Officer of the American Health Care Association shares recent data shows how well this year's COVID-19 and flu vaccines protect older adults from serious illness and hospital visits. The good news is that both vaccines lower the risk of severe respiratory illness and hospitalization.

The COVID-19 vaccine for 2024–2025 was found to be 45%–46% effective at preventing hospitalizations in adults aged 65 and older, compared to those who didn't get this year's shot. This data comes from two research networks, VISION and IVY, which track hospitalized patients, their vaccination status, and the type of infections they have.
The effectiveness of this season's flu vaccine was also measured using four research networks in the U.S. Among adults 65 and older, the flu shot reduced the risk of flu-related illness by 51% in outpatient settings. It also lowered the risk of hospitalization by 38% (IVY) and 57% (VISION). As of February 3, 2025, testing shows that the flu viruses making people sick this season match the strains covered in the vaccine.

For more details, including information on vaccine effectiveness in children and adults, see the MMWR report from February 27, 2025.
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org